JACK 
HARKMY 

AFLOAT 


AND 


ASHORE 


BRACEBR1DGE 
HEMYNG 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


JACK  HARKAWAY'S 


Adventures  Afloat  and  Ashore 


A  SEQUEL  TO 


JACK  HARKAWAY  AFTER  SCHOOLDAYS 


CHICAGO 

M.  A.  DONOHUE  &  COMPANY 


to 


JACK   HARKAWAY'S  ADVENTURES 
AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE. 

CHAPTER  I. 

"  WHAT  did  you  want  to  upset  the  council  for?  They 
don't  understand  your  ventriloquism,"  continued  Hun- 
ston. 

"  I  was  getting  dull  in  that  shed  place  where  you  shut 
me  up — awfully  slow  in  fact ;  and  when  I  heard  you  fellows 
enjoying  yourselves,  and  having  a  bit  of  a  barney,  I 
thought  I'd  join  in,  and  sing  you  Rule  Britannia,  or  some- 
thing lively. " 

"  I  shall  never  have  the  same  influence  over  the  Pisangs 
again.  Look  how  they  are  fighting  !  " 

"The  Kilkenny  cats  are  nothing  to  them,"  Jack  re- 
marked. 

"  Say  something  and  stop  them ;  you  can  do  it !  "  ex- 
claimed Hunston. 

"  And  get  taken  back  to  be  hanged.  Thank  you,  no  !  * 
replied  Jack. 

"  I'll  promise  you  your  life." 

"Will  you?" 

"  Yes,  I  will,  indeed." 

1 '  What  is  your  promise  worth,  do  you  think  ?  "  answered 
Jack,  derisively.  ' '  You'd  tell  a  bushel  of  lies  for  a  dollar. " 

"  You  must  trust  me  for  old  acquaintance'  sake.  Stop 
the  row,  and  give  them  a  specimen  of  your  ventriloquial 
powers.  It  will  put  them  in  a  good  humour." 

"  You're  very  kind,"  Jack  said.  "  Perhaps  they'd  enjoy 
the  entertainment  very  much,  especially  as  the  show 
wouldn't  cost  them  anything.  But  I'm  sorry  I  can't  stop. " 

"Can't  stop?  What  do  you  mean?"  said  Hunston, 
laying  his  hand  on  his  arm. 

3 


4  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"  Paws  off,  Pompey  !  "  cried  Jack,  angrily.  "  If  you 
want  a  domino,  just  say  which  eye  you  would  prefer  to 
be  temporarily  darkened." 

"  But  I  say  you  can't  go.  You  must  stop.  You're  a 
prisoner,"  continued  Hunston. 

Jack's  knife  flashed  before  his  eyes,  and  he  retreated 
further  into  the  corner. 

Taking  up  a  lamp  which  stood  near,  Jack  looked  at  it. 

The  wick,  made  of  a  bit  of  dry  pitch,  floated  in  the  half 
of  a  cocoanut  rilled  with  oil. 

"  It  will  do,  "he  said. 

"  Do  !  "  repeated  Hunston.     "  Do  for  what  ?  " 

"  You'll  see  if  you  live  long  enough.  Thought  you 
were  going  to  hang  me,  did  you  ?  "  replied  Jack,  laughing. 

He  held  the  lamp  to  one  side  of  the  council  chamber. 

It  was  built  entirely  of  bamboo,  which,  being  as  dry  as 
tinder,  was  exceedingly  inflammable. 

"  You'll  set  the  place  on  fire  !  "  exclaimed  Hunston,  in 
alarm. 

"  Just  what  occurred  to  me,  my  pippin  ;  and  as  the 
wind  is  rather  high,  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  all  Palembang 
was  to  go  to  blazes  before  morning,"  Jack  answered. 

"  Help !  here,  he's "  began  Hunston,  when  the 

point  of  Jack's  knife  penetrated  the  clothes  he  wore  and 
pricked  his  breast. 

"  Do  you  want  to  go  to  kingdom  come?"  said  Jack. 

"  No,"  muttered  Hunston,  sullenly. 

"  Then  shut  up.  I  don't  want  to  kill  you  now ;  but 
necessity  has  no  law,  and  if  you  utter  a  sound  I  will  kill 
you. " 

The  bamboo  framework  had  by  this  time  caught  fire, 
and  the  flames  began  to  spread  with  a  loud  crackling 
noise. 

Those  Pisangs  who  had  been  fighting  were  getting  tired 
of  the  amusement. 

The  elder  chiefs,  who  had  been  trying  to  pacify  the 
combatants,  were  beginning  to  succeed  in  their  efforts. 

"  Good-bye,"  said  Jack. 

"  You  shan't  go  !    I'll " 

Jack  looked  for  a  moment  as  if  he  was  going  to  use  his 
knife. 

But  he  put  it  in  his  belt,  and,  clenching  his  fists,  let 
Hunston  have  what  he  called  "  one,  two." 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  5 

Hunston  fell  back  half-stunned  before  Jack's  sledge- 
hammer fists. 

His  hat  fell  off,  and  Jack  took  it  up  and  put  it  on.  It 
was  made  of  straw  and  it  had  a  conical  shape. 

"  Rummy  sort  of  tile,"  mused  Jack,  "  but  I  suppose  it 
is  a  badge  of  distinction,  or  something.  "  I'll  sport  it, 
and  they  may  take  me  for  him  ;  not  that  I  shall  be  flat' 
tered  at  the  mistake,  only  it  may  help  me  to  make  tracks." 

The  flames  had  made  incredible  progress  in  the  few 
minutes  that  had  elapsed  since  Jack  set  fire  to  the  bamboo 
framework  with  the  lamp. 

"  They'd  better  call  out  the  engines  and  send  for  the 
fire  escape,"  Jack  said  to  himself,  indulging  in  that  dry 
humour  which  he  could  not  resist  even  in  the  hour  of 
extreme  danger. 

The  thick  smoke  and  the  crackling  of  the  fire  alarmed 
every  one. 

In  an  instant  the  din  ceased,  the  uproar  had  subsided, 
and  the  men  who  had  been  struggling  together  in  a  sort 
of  Irish  row,  looked  blankly  at  one  another. 

Jack  passed  quickly  amongst  the  crowd. 

They  raised  a  cry  of  "  Fire  !  fire  !  "  and  ran  hither  and 
thither  wildly. 

A  panic  had  seized  them. 

Suddenly  Hunston,  who  had  picked  himself  up,  shouted, 
in  a  commanding  voice,  which  trembled  with  rage — 

"  Guard  the  door!  The  prisoner  has  done  this!  Let 
him  not  escape  !  " 

Cries  of  "  Guard  the  door  !  "  "  The  white  prisoner  1 " 
"  Death  to  the  prisoner  ! "  arose  on  all  sides. 

"  It's  getting  hot,"  said  Jack  to  himself.  "  I  wasted 
precious  time  with  that  beast  Hunston." 

The  smoke  grew  thicker,  and  obscured  the  feeble  light 
of  the  oil  lamps,  many  of  which  had  been  extinguished 
in  the  scuffle. 

This  dimness  was  much  in  his  favour. 

It  was  at  the  door  itself  where  the  real  peril  lay. 

There  Buru  and  some  others,  including  the  Tuan  Biza, 
whose  faces  presented  the  appearance  of  so  many  crushed 
tomatoes,  had  congregated. 

"  Now  for  it !  "  exclaimed  Jack,  as  he  was  within  a  few 
paces  of  the  door.  "  Never  say  die  1 " 


6  /A  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

CHAPTER  IL 

ACROSS  THE   BRIDGE. 

IT  had  not  been  Jack's  hope  or  intention  to  escape  when 
he  determined  to  visit  the  council. 

The  idea  was  suggested  by  his  natural  daring  and  love 
of  fun. 

He  thought  it  would  create  a  sensation  of  some  sort, 
and  give  him  an  opportunity  ;  which  it  had  done. 

How  he  would  be  able  to  avail  himself  of  that  oppor- 
tunity was  another  thing. 

So  far  he  had  succeeded  beyond  his  expectations. 

He  had  got  up  ill  blood  between  Hunston  and  his  sav- 
age friends. 

The  Tuan  Biza  and  the  other  chiefs  had  engaged  in  a 
dreadful  riot,  which  had  resulted  in  more  than  one  broken 
head. 

Hunston  had  been  "  chaffed  and  punched,"  as  Jack  said, 
when  he  was  reckoning  up  the  damage  afterwards. 

And  to  crown  all,  the  council-chamber  was  in  flames, 
the  chiefs  in  frantic  terror,  and  only  a  few  cool  hands 
guarding  the  door  in  obedience  to  Hunston's  ill-timed 
summons. 

Such  was  the  situation  of  affairs. 

Up  to  the  present  time  Jack  had  decidedly  the  best  of  it. 

One  of  Buru's  eyes  was  rapidly  closing,  and  the  other 
wasn't  of  much  use. 

But  he  had  heard  Hunston's  voice,  and  with  native 
cunning  guessed  that  the  prisoner  had  set  the  place  on  fire, 
hoping  to  escape  in  the  inevitable  hubbub  that  would 
ensue. 

"  If,"  he  argued,  "  Hunston  is  at  one  end  of  the  council- 
chamber,  he  can't  be  at  the  other." 

He  did  not  believe  that  even  a  white  chief,  clever 
though  he  might  be,  could  be  in  two  places  at  one  time. 

So  Jack's  conical  hat  did  not  impose  upon  him. 

Imitating  Hunston's  voice  again,  Jack  said,  as  he 
reached  the  door — 

"  Let  me  out,  my  good  Buru.  I  am  Hunston,  the 
white  chief." 


APLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  7 

'•  You  are  the  prisoner,"  replied  Buru.  "  Yield  your- 
self to  me." 

Jack's  only  reply  was  to  draw  his  knife,  and  plunge  it 
up  to  the  hilt  in  his  body. 

Buru  fell  without  a  sound. 

The  Pisangs  saw  the  deed  committed  and  were  silent 
for  a  moment  through  terror  and  amazement. 

But  an  instant  afterwards  a  dozen  spears  were  levelled 
at  him,  and  half  as  many  ugly-looking  clubs  aimed  at  his 
head. 

Cutting  right  and  left  with  his  knife,  he  backed  through 
the  crowd. 

He  reached  the  burning  portion  of  the  apartment, 
which  was  fringed  by  an  eager  knot  of  spectators. 

The  wall  was  nearly  burnt  through,  and  the  roof  had 
fallen  in. 

Fierce  cries  assailed  him,  and  if  he  hesitated  he  was  lost. 

Hunston  made  a  snatch  at  him,  hoping  to  hold  him  fast 
till  he  could  get  assistance. 

But  Jack  threw  him  off,  saying,  "  You  didn't  do  it  that 
time,  old  boy !  "  and  dashed  boldly  into  the  burning 
space,  and  falling  timber. 

With  a  wild  plunge  he  dashed  through  the  hole  in  the 
wall,  and,  half-blinded,  half-suffocated,  found  himself 
outside. 

The  air  was  cool  and  refreshing. 

At  present  the  alarm  of  fire  had  not  spread,  and  the 
inhabitants  of  Palembang  were  sleeping  in  fancied 
security. 

His  hair  was  singed,  and  his  hat  was  on  fire. 

This  he  cast  from  him  as  a  useless  encumbrance,  and 
taking  one  look  at  the  burning  building,  ran  at  full  speed 
up  the  street, 

When  his  enemies  had  recovered  from  their  surprise, 
they  rushed  through  the  open  door,  and  gave  chase. 

Hunston  was  at  their  head. 

"After  him  ! "  he  cried.  "  He  will  take  to  the  woods. 
After  him  !  He  cannot  escape.  Brave  will  be  the  chief 
who  takes  his  head,  and  all  the  women  of  Palembang  will 
smile  upon  him." 

Jack's  form  could  be  clearly  seen  in  the   moonlight 

The  pursuer's  halted  at  the  extremity  of  the  town,  satis- 
fied that  they  knew  the  direction  the  fugitive  had  taken. 


O  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

They  held  a  brief  conversation,  which  resulted  hi 
twelve  chiefs,  with  Hunston  in  command,  being  told  on* 
to  pursue  the  runaway. 

The  rest  returned  to  the  burning  council-chamber,  to 
assist  in  putting  out  the  fire,  which  had  assumed  formid- 
able dimensions. 

No  sooner  had  Jack  reached  the  open  ground  than  he 
turned  round,  and  skirted  the  town  to  throw  the  Pisangs 
off  the  scent 

They  would  imagine  that  he  would  go  straight  on,  and 
he  might  gain  a  secure  shelter  in  the  woods. 

As  he  moderated  his  pace  and  went  round  the  town,  he 
could  hear  the  cries  of  the  affrighted  populace. 

Gongs  were  beaten  in  every  direction. 

Dense  clouds  of  smoke  and  bright  flashes  of  flame 
showed  him  that  the  fire,  driven  by  the  wind,  had  seized 
on  other  dwellings,  and  was  making  great  havoc  and 
devastation. 

"It's  as  good  as  burning  out  a  wasp's  nest,"  he 
remarked. 

For  more  than  two  hours  he  ran  without  halting. 

It  was  his  impression  that  when  those  who  followed 
him  found  themselves  at  fault  they  would  return  to  the 
burning  town. 

Three  separate  parties  of  explorers  would  be  formed, 
and  despatched  in  various  directions. 

When  day  broke,  he  had  reached  a  dense  forest,  and 
feeling  tired,  he  climbed  into  a  tree  to  enjoy  a  little  rest. 

Lashing  himself  with  his  handkerchief  to  a  bough,  he 
closed  his  eyes. 

For  some  time  he  could  not  go  to  sleep,  owing  to  th< 
sharp  hiss  of  the  serpents  and  the  dread  cries  of  the  wiWt 
beasts. 

He  thought  with  horror  of  Sinbad  the  Sailor  when  in  a 
similar  position. 

Sinbad  had  two  companions  with  him,  and  they  were 
lower  down  in  a  tree. 

On  the  first  night  a  huge  snake  climbed  up,  and 
dragged  down  one  of  the  men. 

Would  the  snakes  of  this  island  attempt  to  gratify  theii 
appetites  in  a  similar  manner? 

"  No  serpent  shall  land  me, "  he  said  to  himselt  ••  I'll 
sleep  with  one  eye  open." 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  9 

But  at  length  exhausted  nature  had  its  way,  and  he 
slept  soundly. 

Not  for  long,  however. 

He  was  awake  before  the  sun  had  acquired  any  con- 
siderable power,  and  unlashing  himself,  he  descended  the 
tree. 

All  nature  was  smiling  under  the  grateful  night  dew  and 
the  cheering  sun's  rays. 

He  pushed  on  slowly  through  the  forest,  not  daring  to 
retrace  his  steps. 

His  only  hope  was  to  subsist  in  the  jungle  as  best  he 
might  until  his  friends  from  Limbi  had  come  over  and 
captured  the  island,  if  they  could  succeed  in  doing  so. 

He  felt  sure  that  Harvey  was  doing  his  utmost  for  him. 

But  he  did  not  suspect  the  length  to  which  Harvey's 
devotion  had  led  him. 

Nor  did  he  even  faintly  imagine  that  he  and  Monday 
were  at  that  very  time  on  the  island. 

"  Dick  won't  desert  me,"  he  thought  "  DICK  will  stick 
to  me  like  a  leech.  That's  one  comfort." 

He  was  in  high  spirits  as  he  slowly  trudged  along 
through  the  dense  underwood. 

To  have  outwitted  the  Pisangs,  bearded  Hunston 
amongst  his  friends,  and  set  the  town  of  Palembang  on 
fire  was  no  slight  achievement. 

Suddenly  he  felt  a  peculiar  smarting  and  itching  sensa- 
ion  at  the  ankle. 

Looking  down,  he  found  his  socks  stained  with  blood. 

Turning  them  down,  he  saw  both  ankles  perfectly 
fringed  with  little  insects  like  leeches,  which  had  filled 
themselves  till  they  were  ready  to  burst. 

Some  of  the  bloodsuckers  had  even  crawled  down  to 
his  foot,  and  made  an  incision  which  allowed  the  blood 
to  trickle  through  his  shoe. 

Jack  had  heard  of  these  annoying  and  disquieting  pests 
from  Monday. 

Sometimes  the  stinging  worms  would  drop  from  the 
leaves  of  the  trees  upon  the  heads  and  into  the  necks  of 
those  who  pass  under  them. 

It  was  almost  unendurable  to  think  that  they  were 
lancing  him  and  sucking  out  his  blood. 

However,  he  knocked  them  off  as  well  as  he  could, 
and  travelled  onwards. 


10  JACK  HARK  A  IV A  Y  'S  AD  VENTURES 

At  length  he  came  to  a  river  which  ran  through  a 
ravine,  the  rocky  bottom  of  which  churned  its  impetuous 
waters  into  foam. 

Cautiously  making  his  way  by  the  side  of  the  rocky 
channel,  Jack  pushed  along  in  a  listless  manner. 

He  wished  to  find  a  cave  in  which  he  could  rest,  with 
a  few  palms  in  the  vicinity  to  supply  him  with  cocoanuts. 

He  had  not  gone  far  before  he  came  to  a  hanging 
bridge,  which  was  thrown  across  the  ravine. 

On  each  side  was  a  road,  if  an  ordinary  clearing  in  the 
forest  might  be  dignified  with  that  name. 

It  was  a  suspension  bridge  of  rattan  ;  at  the  middle  it 
rested  on  the  tops  of  tall  trees,  which  grew  up  from  a 
small  island  in  the  torrent  below. 

It  was  constructed  by  stretching  across  these  large 
rattans. 

On  these,  narrow  slips  of  board  were  placed  and 
fastened  at  each  end  ;  other  rattans  starting  from  the 
ground  on  the  bank,  passed  above  the  branches  of  high 
camphor  trees  that  grew  on  the  edge  of  the  chasm  in 
which  the  torrent  flowed  ;  descending  from  these  branches 
in  a  sharp  curve,  they  rose  again  steeply  at  the  further  end 
of  the  bridge. 

From  these  rattans  were  fastened  other  rattans  below 
them,  just  as  in  our  own  suspension  bridges,  and  thus  all 
parts  were  made  to  aid  in  supporting  the  weight. 

As  it  was  so  light,  it  vibrated  and  shook  terribly  when 
any  one  ventured  to  cross  it. 

Jack  had  been  told  of  these  bridges,  of  which  there  are 
several  in  the  islands,  and  had  been  cautioned  against 
grasping  the  side,  lest  it  might  swing  over  and  cast  him 
in  the  abyss. 

The  difficulty  in  crossing  this  bridge,  which  was  flex- 
ible as  a  manilla  rope,  was  so  great  because  it  oscillated 
from  left  to  right,  and  its  whole  floor  did  not  move  in  one 
piece,  but  like  a  series  of  rolling  waves. 

"I  don't  think  I'll  venture  across  that,"  said  Jack. 
"But  I'll  go  down  the  rocks  if  I  can  manage  it,  and  have 
ft  drink  of  water." 

As  he  was  speaking,  he  heard  a  loud  shout  behind  him. 

The  next  moment  an  arrow  buried  itself  in  a  tree  close 
to  him. 

He  looked  round,  and  saw  a  party  of  Pisangs,  probably 


AFLOA  T  AND  A  SHORE.  1 1 

forming1  one  of  the  divisions  that  had  been  sent  out  to 
search  for  him. 

Now  he  blamed  himself  for  his  folly  in  not  remaining 
hidden. 

He  could  not  have  acted  more  foolishly  than  exposing 
himself  to  view  on  one  of  the  few  public  roads  in  the 
island. 

To  retreat  into  the  forest,  was  to  court  instant  death  or 
capture. 

The  road  was  blocked. 

The  sides  of  the  ravine  were  just  there  almost  perpen- 
dicular, and  impossible  of  descent. 

If  he  would  escape,  there  was  nothing  for  it  but  a  bold 
attempt  to  cross  the  dangerous  bridge. 

Without  any  further  hesitation,  he  got  on  the  bridge, 
with  a  hurried  walk,  which  he  hoped  would  break  up  the 
rolling  motion. 

It  was  nearly  four  hundred  feet  long. 

Having  got  half-way  across  the  first  span,  he  saw  that 
one  of  the  cross-boards,  on  which  he  was  in  the  act  of 
placing  his  foot,  had  become  loose,  and  slipped  on  to  one 
side. 

He  drew  back,  for  had  he  gone  on  carelessly,  he  must 
have  fallen  through,  and  been  dashed  to  pieces  on  the 
rocks  below. 

Stopping  instantly,  he  stood  still,  and  the  bridge  swung 
to  and  fro,  as  if  it  was  being  purposely  shaken. 

The  Pisangs  continued  to  fire  arrows  at  him,  but  the 
motion  of  the  bridge  interfered  with  the  correctness  of 
their  aim. 

Going  on  again,  he  reached  the  centre,  and  reconnoitred 
his  enemies. 

One  Pisang,  more  adventurous  than  the  rest,  was 
following  him. 

"Wait  a  bit !  "  said  Jack  between  his  teeth. 

He  had  gained  confidence  now,  and  crossed  the  remain- 
ing half  at  a  quick  run,  hiding  himself  behind  a  tree  when 
on  land. 

The  Pisangs  shouted  to  one  another,  and  flattered 
themselves  that  their  prey  was  not  far  off. 

When  the  whole  five  were  together,  on  the  second  half, 
Jack  slashed  away  with  his  knife  at  the  supports  of  rattan. 

Three  or  four  parted,  and  the  remaining  ones,  unable  to 


12  JACK  HARK  A  WAY'S  AD  VENTURES 

support  the  weight,  snapped  with  a  loud  sharp  crack,  like 
the  report  of  a  pistol. 

The  large  rattans  that  supported  the  sides,  and  went 
over  the  high  branches  of  the  camphor  trees,  had  parted. 

Then  the  bridge  gave  a  fearful  lurch,  and  finally  the 
whole  structure  fell  with  a  crash  into  the  boiling  torrent. 

Fearful  cries  arose  from  the  poor  wretches  thus  hurled 
into  eternity,  but  Jack  smiled  grimly,  for  it  was  their  lives 
or  his,  and  again  he  had  triumphed. 

His  exultation  was  premature,  however. 

Straight  in  front  of  him,  he  saw  five  more  Pisangs,  who 
were  attracted  by  the  cries  of  their  countrymen. 

They  hurried  forward,  but  all  was  still. 

Probably  the  party  had  divided,  one  half  crossing  the 
bridge,  the  other,  which  had  perished,  remaining  behind. 

They  peered  down  the  sides  of  the  ravine,  and  talked 
hurriedly  among  themselves. 

One,  more  curious  than  the  rest,  examined  the  rattans, 
and  saw  that  they  had  been  cut  with  a  knife. 

He  pointed  this  out  to  his  companions. 

Yells  of  fury  arose,  and  Jack,  who  was  gently  stealing 
off  along  the  road,  was  perceived. 

Instantly  a  hue  and  cry  was  raised. 

"Now  for  it! "  thought  Jack,  as  he  scudded  along  the 
road.  "I  must  step  out,  or  make  up  my  mind  to  be 
cooked  for  dinner,  and  eaten  without  salt. " 

He  had  a  slight  start,  but  it  was  a  question  whether  or 
not  he  would  keep  it. 

His  pursuers  made  the  woods  echo  again  with  their 
savage  outcries. 

Jack's  training  in  hare-and-hounds,  at  Mr.  Crawcour's 
academy  for  young  gentlemen,  stood  him  in  good  stead 
now. 

It  was  a  race  for  life. 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE    RACE   FOR    LIFE. 

As  the  Pisangs  knew  the  road  and  the  country  so  much 
better  than  he  did,  Jack  was  afraid  to  take  refuge  in  the 
forest  again. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  13 

He  ran  on  at  the  top  of  his  speed,  not  daring  to  turn 
round  to  look  how  the  chase  progressed,  lest  he  should 
lose  time. 

No  arrows  were  fired  at  him  ;  no  spears  thrown. 

Either  the  Pisangs  had  received  orders  to  bring  him 
back  alive,  or  they  would  not  stop  to  adjust  their  bows, 
or  hurl  their  spears. 

It  scarcely  could  be  that  they  had  regard  for  his  life,  or 
an  arrow  would  not  have  been  shot  at  him  when  he  waa 
bent  on  his  perilous  journey  across  the  bridge. 

Good  runner  as  he  was,  he  had  not  gone  more  than  threa 
or  four  miles  before  he  felt  his  strength  failing  him. 

Jack's  head  grew  dizzy,  and  his  legs  seemed  to  drag 
one  after  the  other. 

The  wound  inflicted  upon  him  when  captured  had 
caused  him  to  lose  blood. 

This  would  create  weakness,  and  even  vertigo,  if  com* 
pelled  to  undergo  unwonted  exertion. 

For  some  hours  he  had  not  had  anything  to  eat  and 
drink. 

He  was  also  running  under  a  hot  sun,  which  made  the 
perspiration  pour  from  him  in  streams.  All  this  told 
against  him. 

The  Pisangs  had  nothing  to  impede  the  free  exercise  oi 
their  limbs. 

He  had. 

Therefore  he  was  at  an  additional  disadvantage. 

"I'm  coopered,"  was  Jack's  mental  exclamation. 

He  turned  round  and  saw  the  pursuers  had  him  well  in 
hand — three  in  front,  two  behind. 

They  had  never  once  lost  sight  of  him. 

On  they  came  ;  bodies  a  little  inclined  forward,  elbows 
pressed  into  the  side,  legs  going  like  machines. 

"  They've  got  the  wind  of  a  bellows,"  Jack  said  with  a 
groan.  "I  shouldn't  care  if  I  had  anything  to  fight 
with." 

Like  the  stag,  hunted  to  the  extremity  of  his  endurance, 
he  turned  round,  faced  his  pursuers,  and  stood  at  bay. 

"  I'll  die  with  my  eyes  open," he  exclaimed  ;  "at least, 
I'll  see  what  kills  me,  and  how  it's  done.  It'll  be  a  com- 
fort to  know  the  modus  operandi." 

When  the  Pisangs  saw  that  he  did  not  run  any  further, 
they  halted  also. 


14  JACK  HARK  A  WAY'S  AD  VENTURES 

The  foremost  made  signs  that  they  wanted  to  speak, 
and  Jack  said  that  he  was  listening. 

' '  Are  you  armed  ?  "  asked  the  Pisang. 

"  No  ;  you  can  see  I'm  not.  I  shouldn't  have  cut  and 
run  if  I  had  had  anything  to  fight  with,"  exclaimed  Jack. 
" That  was  why  I  heaved  anchor." 

"O  white  chief,"  continued  the  Pisang,  "come  back 
with  us  to  the  ruins  of  our  city,  for  Palembang  is  now  in 
ashes." 

"That's  a  blessing,  only  it  will  make  the  beggars  more 
sarage,"  said  Jack. 

"You  must  die  the  death  that  has  been  decided  on  ;  I 
can  hold  out  no  hope  of  mercy,  but  I  doubt  not  you  will 
die  like  a  brave  man." 

"That  depends  upon  circumstances.  What  is  this  par- 
ticularly pleasant  death  ? " 

"It  is  the  punishment  of  the  stake.  Every  warrior  in 
Pisang  will  be  entitled  to  cut  off  a  piece  of  your  flesh, 
about  an  inch  square  in  size,  till  all  the  flesh  is  gone  and 
notl.ing  but  bones  remain." 

"Thank  you,  then  I  shan't  come,"  said  Jack,  in  his 
usual  careless  manner. 

The  Pisang  raised  his  bow. 

"You  can  tell  them  I  am  much  obliged  for  their  kind 
invitation,  but  I  have  a  previous  appointment  in  another 
direction.  I  hope  to  enjoy  the  pleasure  another  time. " 

"The  white  chief  cannot  escape;  his  Pisang  enemy 
will  shoot  him  down  and  carry  him  wounded  to  the  city/' 
replied  the  warrior. 

"  Let  fly,"  exclaimed  Jack  impatiently,  "perhaps  I  can 
dodge  you  after  all." 

He  remembered  his  knife,  and  prepared  to  dash  forward 
and  close  with  his  assailants,  so  as  to  perish,  as  it  were, 
sword  in  hand. 

The  Pisang  did  not  waste  any  further  time  in  talk. 

He  drew  his  bow  to  its  utmost  capacity  of  tension. 

The  arrow  quivered  on  the  string. 

Suddenly  there  was  a  loud  report,  and  the  Pisang,  struck 
with  a  leaden  messenger  of  death,  fell  heavily  forward  on 
his  face. 

Three  other  reports  made  themselves  heard,  and  as 
many  Pisangs  fell;  and  the  fifth,  stricken  with  a  deadly 
terror,  plunged  into  the  tangled  depths  of  the  forest  and 
was  seen  no  more. 


A  FLO  A  T  AND  ASHORE.  15 

Jack  could  scarcely  bring  himself  to  believe  in  the 
evidence  of  his  senses. 

Guns  in  Pisang,  and  people  to  fire  them  ;  and  what  is 
more  to  fire  them  on  his  behalf! 

The  age  of  miracles  was  come  back  again. 

"  If  that  isn't  Dick's  doings,"  he  muttered,  "  it  must  be 
something  that  rhymes  with  Dick,  and  that's  Old  Nick." 

Just  then  two  forms  emerged  from  some  dense  brush- 
wood. 

One  was  Harvey,  and  the  other  Monday. 

Advancing  towards  Jack,  they  shook  him  cordially  by 
the  hand. 

Monday  danced  and  capered  about  in  the  wildest  glee. 

Jack  was  too  much  affected  to  be  able  to  speak  for 
some  seconds. 

"  Well,  my  cockalorum,  how  goes  it  ? "  exclaimed 
Harvey. 

"Dick,"  replied  Harkaway,  "how  you  managed  it  I 
don't  know,  but  you  came  up  just  in  time  to  save  my 
life,  and  I'm  deeply  grateful  for  it." 

"  Don't  say  anything  about  that,  old  fellow,"  answered 
Harvey.  "I'm  modestly  inclined,  and  don't  like  to  be 
praised." 

"I  was  dead  beat;  a  four-mile  run  in  this  climate  is  a 
pipe-opener,  I  can  tell  you,  and  it  was  six  to  four  on  the 
niggers." 

"  I  knew  you'd  want  me,  and  that's  why  I  came." 

"  Have  you  landed  in  force  ? "  asked  Jack. 

"  No  ;  Monday  and  I  are  alone." 

"Have  you  ventured,  all  by  yourselves,  into  the  ene» 
mies'  country  for  my  sake  ?  "  asked  Jack,  deeply  moved. 

"Why  not ?  You  don't  think  we  came  to  explore  thi 
beauties  of  Pisang,  in  the  interests  of  high  art,  do  you  ?  * 

"Not  exactly;  but  it  is  more  than  I  had  a  right  to 
expect. " 

"It  is  not.  You  had  a  right  to  expect  that  we  should 
do  everything  we  could  for  you,"  returned  Harvey ;  "  and 
as  the  bloated  old  Limbi  chief  wasn't  ready,  we  put  on 
steam  and  started.  If  you'd  sent  us  a  telegram  we 
should  have  made  a  move  sooner." 

"There  is  such  a  thing  as  electricity  of  the  heart, 
Dick  ;  and  I  think  our  hearts  spoke  to  one  another,"  said 
Jack  Harkaway. 


l6  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  F  VT  AD  VENTURES 

"Very  likely  I  dreamt  about  you,  and  I  thought  you 
wanted  me.  Didn't  I,  Mon  ?  "  said  Harvey. 

"Yes,  sare.  You  say  'Go  to  Mast'  Jack.  He  in 
much  big  danger,'  and  so  we  come,"  replied  the  black. 

"You  arrived  in  the  nick  of  time.  I  was  sewed  up — 
regularly  licked." 

"  Tell  us  all  about  it     What  have  you  done?  " 

"I've  seen  Emily,  and  made  it  all  square  with  her," 
replied  Jack.  "I've  cheeked  Hunston,  and  got  up  a 
small  Donnybrook  Fair  in  the  council-chamber.  I've 
been  the  death  of  six  Pisangs  and  I've  burnt  Palembang 
to  the  ground." 

"  By  George,  Jack,  you're  a  wonder  !  Explain  all  this 
to  me,"  said  Harvey  in  astonishment. 

"I  will  directly.  It  was  more  a  fluke  after  all,  than 
anything  else  ;  but  just  now  I'm  like  a  parched  pea. 
Can  you  lay  your  hands  on  any  civilised  or  uncivilised 
sort  of  grub  ?  " 

"Certainly  we  can.  Our  ship  is  hidden  not  far  off, 
and  we  have  a  few  odds  and  ends  in  her.  I'm  not  ex- 
actly a  pocket  Soyer,  or  a  sea-cook,  but  I  can  rig  you  up 
a  good  breakfast." 

"Fire  away,  then.  If  it's  boiled  snake  I'm  on,  like 
a  hundred  bricks,"  replied  Jack. 

Harvey  gave  Jack  his  arm,  for  he  trembled  violently 
and  needed  support. 

They  walked  to  the  shore,  where  the  boat  was  con- 
cealed, and  were  quickly  engaged  in  discussing  an  ex- 
cellent breakfast,  when  we  consider  the  materials  they 
had  to  work  with. 

A  kettle  was  boiled,  and  some  tea  made  from  some  of 
the  Hyson  found  on  board  the  wreck. 

This  was  very  grateful  and  cheering. 

After  he  had  satisfied  his  appetite,  and  gained  the 
strength  he  stood  so  much  in  need  of,  Jack  related  his 
adventures  to  Harvey. 

"By  Jove!"  replied  the  latter,  "you  had  a  closer 
shave  than  even  I  imagined." 

"I  saw  Hunston  meant  it,"  answered  Jack  "and  that 
put  me  more  on  my  mettle." 

"  You  are  all  right  now,  thank  goodness  ;  and  the  best 
thing  we  can  do  is  to  jump  on  board,  and  set  sail  for 
Limbi,"  remarked  Harvey. 


AFL  OA  T  AND  ASHORE.  1 7 

"  No,"  replied  Jack  shortly. 

"What!"  cried  Harvey  in  astonishment;  "do  you 
want  to  stop  here  ?  " 

"That's  precisely  what  I  mean  to  do." 

"Are  you  mad? " 

"I  don't  think  so.  All  I  want  from  you,  Dick,  is  a 
rifle  and  a  few  charges  of  powder  and  shot." 

"But  think  a  bit,  the  Pisangs  will  have  you;  it's  a 
moral.  You've  burnt  their  city,  and  they'll  swarm  all 
over  the  place  after  you." 

"I'll  chance  it.     We  can  but  die  once." 

Harvey  reflected  a  moment. 

"The  Limbians  won't  be  here  for  a  day  or  two.  You 
know  what  slow  coaches  they  are,  as  well  as  I  do,"  he 
exclaimed. 

"  r  ve  g°t  work  to  do  here,  Dick." 

'•  V\Tiat  work?" 

"Can't  you  guess  ? "  r.cked  Jack. 

"No  ;  hang  me  if  I  can  !  "  replied  Harvey. 

"Then  I  will  tell  you.  But  first  of  all,  give  me  an- 
other half  cocoanutful  of  that  Souchong,  or  whatever 
it  is. " 

Harvey  did  so,  and  Jack  proceeded  to  drink  the  tea 
with  calm  enjoyment 


CHAPTER    IV. 

THE   STRATAGEM. 

THE  sun  was  now  rising  high  in  the  heavens. 

Jack  began  to  get  merry. 

"I'll  trouble  you,  Mr.  Monday,"  he  said,  "for  another 
of  those  dried  fish.  They're  not  equal  to  bloaters,  but 
they're  not  bad." 

"Um  dried  fish,  sare?  Yes,  sare,  very  fine,"  replied 
Monday. 

"I  didn't  ask  you  for  your  opinion  ;  the  fish  is  quite 
sufficient  You  can  dry  up,"  answered  Jack. 

Harvey   was    dying   with   impatience   to    know  what 
Jack's  intentions  were,  though  the  latter  did   not  show 
*ny  signs  of  being-  in  a  hu'  ry  to  gratify  his  curiosity. 
a 


l8  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  ADVENTURES 

"Fine  day,"  said  Jack,  wiping  his  mouth  with  the 
back  of  his  hand,  in  the  absence  of  a  pocket  hand- 
kerchief. 

"What's  the  use  of  telling  a  fellow  that,  when  it  always 
is  fine  here?"  answered  Harvey. 

"Don't  ruffle  your  feathers,  Dick  1  As  I'm  going  to 
stop  in  the  island,  I  like  to  study  the  signs  of  the 
weather." 

"What  are  you  going  to  stay  for?  " 

"  Can't  you  guess  ?  " 

"I've  told  you  I  can't  once,"  replied  Harvey.  "I 
never  was  good  at  riddles,  as  a  kid." 

"But  you're  not  a  kid  now,  and  you  ought  to  have 
improved.  Why  does  a  miller  wear  a  white  hat  ? " 

"To  keep  his  head  warm,  I  suppose." 

"Exactly,"  replied  Jack.  "That  shows  you're  not 
quite  a  Simple  Simon." 

Harvey  looked  angry,  and  pressing  his  lips  together, 
remained  silent. 

"  Dick,  you've  lost  something,"  exclaimed  Jack  quickly. 

"  Have  I  ?     What  ?  "  asked  Harvey. 

"  Only  your  tongue,  that's  all.  You're  sulking  because 
I  won't  speak  fast  enough  for  you.  Did  they  teaze  the 
poor  old  boy  ?  "  cried  Jack  coaxingly. 

"Go  011 ;  I  don't  mind,"  replied  Harvey. 

"Forgive  me,  Dick.  I  feel  so  jolly  at  getting  away 
from  those  Pisangs  that  I  must  chaff  or  die,"  exclaimed 
Jack  in  a  good-natured  voice.  "You  would  if  you 
were  me." 

" So  I  should,  Jack.     I'm  not  angry." 

"It's  so  freezingly  delightful — that's  the  phrase  out 
here — to  have  licked  the  skunks,  that  I  can't  help 
exuberating." 

"That's  a  big  word,"  said  Harvey,  smiling. 

"Big  words  suit  the  occasion,"  answered  Jack  ;  "  and 
now  I'll  tell  you  why  I  want  to  stay  here.  Emily  is  in 
the  hands  of  the  Pisangs ;  and,  what  is  worse,  in  the 
power  of  that  brute  Hunston,  who  is  a  Pisang  double 
distilled." 

"  I  see  ;  don't  say  any  more,  Jack.  I  was  an  unfeeling 
wretch  not  to  think  of  that  before,"  Harvey  hastened 
to  say. 

"I  don't  want  you  to  stay,"  continued  Jack.     "We 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  19 

may  be  Damon  and  Pythias,  but  it  would  be  too  much 
to  ask  you  to  play  the  part  of  Pythias,  to  empty  boxes." 

"  No,  it  wouldn't ;  and  the  boxes  wouldn't  be  empty,  for 
my  heart  and  my  conscience  are  big  enough  to  fill  the 
house." 

"  Close  the  show,"  exclaimed  Jack.  "You're  a  good 
sort;  you're  a  trump,  and  you  shall  help  me  to  rescue 
Emily." 

"Or  die  in  the  attempt." 

"Good  again,  Dick;  they've  got  to  kill  us  though,  now 
we  have  these  little  pop-guns  ; "  and  Jack  handled  the 
rifle  and  revolver  which  Monday  had  given  him,  looking 
at  them  affectionately. 

"Monday  help  too,  rescue  Missey  Em'ly,"  cried 
Monday. 

' '  So  you  shall     All  hands  are  welcome,"  replied  Jack. 

"You  should  have  seen  Monday's  get-up  before  we 
left  Limbi ;  there  was  a  wreck — all  the  crew  dead,  and 
we  had  the  first  overhaul,"  exclaimed  Harvey. 

"What  did  he  do ? "  asked  Jack. 

"Togged  himself  out  till  he  was  quite  nobby,  didn't 
you,  Mon  ?  " 

"Never  mind,"  replied  Monday;  "me  show  Mast* 
Jack,  one  of  these  days.  All  very  fine,  make  fun  of  poor 
Monday  ;  him  know  what  him  do  know." 

"Don't  be  riled,  Prince  Matabella,"  continued  Har- 
vey; "you  shall  sport  your  things  when  we  get  back 
again. " 

Monday  retired  to  pack  up  the  remains  of  the  breakfast, 
and  from  the  way  in  which  he  talked  to  himself  in  his 
own  language,  he  did  not  seem  very  well  pleased  at  the 
ridicule  Harvey  cast  upon  his  newly-acquired  European 
clothes. 

To  him,  his  attire  was  simply  perfect. 

It  whipped  that  of  his  young  masters  altogether,  and 
threw  Mr.  Mole's  rather  shabby  dress  quite  into  the  shade. 

"You  say  you  have  seen  Emily?"  observed  Harvey. 

"Yes,  I  did  enjoy  that  happiness,  but  not  for  long,  and 
under  very  trying  circumstances,"  replied  Jack. 

"I  should  have  liked  to  see  you  stir  up  the  chiefs  in 
Palembang  ;  what  a  lark  it  must  have  been." 

"It  wasn't  all  fun.  I  must  confess  I  was  in  a  dismal 
funk  all  the  time." 


20  JACK  II ARK  A  WA  Y  'S  AD  VENTURES 

"What  do  you  think  of  doing  about  Emily?"  asked 
Harvey. 

"I  fancy,"  replied  Jack,  "that  as  the  city  is  burned 
down,  they  will  all  be  up  a  tree ;  that  is  to  say,  camped 
out  anywhere,  and  in  the  confusion  we  might  make  a 
dash." 

' '  Just  like  a  man-of-war's  boats  cutting  out  an  armed 
vessel  in  harbour." 

"Something  of  that  sort,"  answered  Jack. 

"When  shall  you  try  it  on  ?  " 

"  To-morrow.  I'm  so  knocked  out  of  time  that  I  must 
sleep  all  day." 

"  I'll  join  you.  Suppose  we  sleep  under  this  tree,  and 
leave  Monday  to  watch,"  said  Harvey. 

"That's  the  idea,"  replied  Jack.  "Call  him;  I'm  so 
beastly  tired,  and  can't  raise  my  voice." 

"  Monday,"  cried  Harvey.      "You're  wanted." 

' '  What  um  want  him  for,  Mast'  Harvey  ? "  asked 
Monday. 

"We're  going  to  recruit  exhausted  nature;  in  other 
words,  to  sleep,  and  you  must  keep  a  good  look-out.  If 
you  don't " 

"What  then,  sare  ?  " 

"  We'll  get  some  chemical  stuff  and  turn  you  white." 

"  He  I  he  !"  laughed  Monday.  "  You  have  um  joke, 
Mast'  Harvey." 

"You'll  find  it  no  joke,  when  you're  all  cream  and  no 
chocolate.  So  keep  your  eyes  open,  and  stick  something 
under  your  eyelids." 

Monday  promised  to  exercise  the  greatest  vigilance,  and 
there  was  some  necessity  for  it 

The  Pisangs  were  evidently  swarming  about  the  island 
in  pursuit  of  Jack. 

A  party  might  discover  them,  and  if  no  watch  was  kept 
they  would  be  surprised  before  they  could  use  their 
guns. 

In  a  very  short  time  Jack  and  Harvey  were  fast  asleep. 

They  had  every  confidence  in  Monday. 

The  latter  stood  near  the  trunk  of  the  tree,  rifle  in  hand, 
revolver  in  his  belt,  and  looked  searchingly  by  turns  in 
every  direction. 

"  Monday  like  to  see  um  Pisang  take  him  in,"  he  mut- 
tered. "  Monday  smell  um  Pisans:  mile  off." 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  2 1 

A  couple  of  hours  passed,  and  the  heat  of  the  day  was 
at  its  height. 

Monday,  like  all  the  other  natives  of  the  islands, 
owned  the  power  of  the  sun  at  this  particular  time. 

He  felt  drowsy,  and  had  the  greatest  difficulty  in  keep- 
ing himself  awake. 

His  eyes  closed,  and  he  was  aroused  in  a  short  time  by 
a  slight  noise. 

A  large  monkey  of  the  ourang-outang  species  had  crept 
up,  and  was  hurrying  off  with  his  rifle,  which  he  had 
placed  against  a  tree. 

He  did  not  like  to  take  Jack's  or  Harvey's,  for  they  had 
put  them  under  their  heads,  to  be  ready  at  a  moment's 
notice. 

If  he  touched  them  he  should  wake  them. 

So  he  followed  the  monkey. 

It  went  slowly  into  the  forest,  and  Monday,  not  caring 
to  go  into  the  jungle  after  it,  drew  a  revolver  from  his  belt 
and  fired. 

The  monkey  threw  up  his  ungainly  arms  and  fell  upon 
its  back. 

Monday  advanced  to  gain  possession  of  his  rifle,  and 
was  astonished  to  find  the  skin  fall  off. 

A  full-grown  Pisang  was  revealed  to  his  view. 

It  was  a  disguise. 

As  he  stooped  to  take  possession  of  his  rifle  half-a-dozen 
strong  hands  seized  him. 

He  had  fallen  into  a  trap. 

The  Pisang  who  had  assumed  the  disguise  had  paid  the 
penalty  with  his  life. 

But  he  had  enabled  his  companions  to  succeed  in  their 
enterprise. 

Almost  before  he  could  realise  the  fact,  Monday  was 
strongly  bound. 

He  cast  his  eyes  towards  Jack  and  Harvey,  and  found 
that  a  score  of  dusky  figures  were  busily  engaged  in 
securing  them. 

They  had  been  surprised  while  they  slept. 

"  Hullo,"  cried  Jack,  as  he  felt  himself  strongly  grasped. 
"What's  this?" 

'•'  Monday — Monday  !  "  cried  Harvey. 

"You  may  go  through  all  the  days  in  the  week,  and  it 
won't  help  you,"  said  a  voice  in  his  ear. 


2  2      JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y'S  ADVENT  URES 

He  looked  up.     "  Hunston!"  he  ejaculated. 

"Yes,  my  boy.  We've  been  one  too  many  for  you," 
said  Hunston,  with  a  malevolent  laugh 

Monday  was  marched  up  to  the  spot  where  his  young 
masters  were  safely  bound. 

He  hung  down  his  head  and  was  ashamed  to  speak. 

"This  is  your  fault,"  said  Harvey  angrily. 

"They  come  one  dodge  over  Monday,  Mast'  Harvey. 
Him  think  it  um  monkey  and  shoot,  but  then  it  too  late," 
replied  Monday. 

"It's  no  good  howling,"  said  Jack.  "We're  copped 
and  there's  an  end  of  it." 

"  I'm  glad  to  see  you  bear  it  with  resignation. "  rejoined 
Hunston.  "  When  I  set  out  after  you  I  did  not  expect  to 
make  such  a  haul  as  this." 

"Didn't  it  burn  well?  It  was  a  proper  flare-up.  I 
mean  Palembang,"  said  Jack,  smiling 

"  You'll  suffer  all  the  more  for  it,  and  we  can  make  an- 
other gallows,  big  enough  for  the  three  of  you,"  answered 
Hunston. 

Jack  laughed  again 

"You'll  laugh  on  the  wrong  side  of  your  face  soon," 
said  Hunston. 

"  Not  I,"  answered  Jack;  "  I  haven't  got  a  wrong  side. 
I  leave  that  sort  of  thing  to  you.  I  can't  help  laughing 
when  I  see  you." 

"  Let  them  laugh  who  win,"  replied  Hunston  savagely. 

He  spoke  a  few  words  to  his  attendants,  and  the  Pisangs 
placed  themselves  in  a  triple  line  round  the  captives. 

Their  legs  were  free,  though  their  arms  were  tightly 
bound  behind  their  backs. 

Hunston  took  their  revolvers  from  them  and  placed 
them  in  his  own  belt. 

The  rifle  he  told  the  Pisangs  to  carry. 

"March!"  he  cried. 

The  party  moved  forward,  going  towards  the  interior. 

"Cheer  up,  Dick,"  said  Harkaway. 

"I'm  all  right,"  said  Harvey.  "Only  I  can't  help 
thinking  that  Monday " 

"Don't  bully  the  poor  beggar.  They  had  him  just  as 
they  might  have  had  you  or  me.  It  was  a  dodge,"  inter- 
rupted Jack. 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  23 

"Silence,  there  !     No  talking,"  cried  Hunston. 

"Who  are  you  when  you're  at  home?"  asked  Jack, 
with  his  usual  impudence. 

Hunston,  delighted  to  have  a  pistol  again,  flourished  it 
in  his  face. 

"Shut  up,"  he  said,  "  or  I'll  let  you  know." 

"Will  you?" 

"  Yes  ;  and  I'll  pistol  the  first  who  disobeys  my  orders. 
Silence  !  March  !  " 

The  prisoners  moved  on  again,  and  not  a  word  was 
spoken. 

"  Don't  rile  him,"  whispered  Harvey.  "It  is  as  well 
to  bide  our  time." 

Jack  made  no  reply,  but  his  pale  face  and  compressed 
lips  showed  that  evil  thoughts  were  passing  through  his 
mind. 

He  regretted  now  that  he  had  not  killed  Hunston  the 
night  before,  when  he  had  the  chance. 

But  the  chance  was  gone. 

It  was  too  late  to  think  of  that  now. 


CHAPTER  V. 

GRIN   AND    BEAR    IT. 

THE  captives  were  placed  in  the  midst  of  a  guard,  and 
the  procession,  if  such  it  can  be  called,  started  for  the 
ruins  of  Palembang. 

Jack,  Harvey,  and  Monday  were  together,  their  arms 
being  bound  behind  them. 

"It's  all  your  fault,  Monday,"  said  Jack,  with  just  the 
\east  tinge  of  anger  in  his  tone. 

' '  How  on  earth  he  could  be  such  an  ass,  I  don't  know, " 
«aid  Harvey. 

"Monday  one  fool,"  said  the  black.  "  Him  deserve 
to  be  eaten. '' 

"  Perhaps  they'll  doit,"  replied  Harvey;  "only  they 
may  prefer  white  meat  first,  worse  luck  !  " 

"I  don't  know  how  the  deuce  to  get  out  of  this  scrape," 
remarked  Jack.  "I  shouldn't  care  so  much  for  myself. 


34  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  l"S  AD  VENTURES 

It's   you  and   Monday  I  am  in   a  funk  about     If  you 
could  get  away,  Dick " 

"  Leave  thee,  leave  thee,  lad; 
111  never  leave  thee," 

said  Harvey,  quoting  the  words  of  an  old  Scotch  song. 

"  I  know  you're  a  brick,  and  you'll  stand  to  your  guns 
as  long  as  anybody,"  said  Jack.  "  But  hang  me  if  I  can 
help  being  riled  at  this  turn-up.  It  oughtn't  to  have 
happened." 

Hunston  was  not  far  off,  and  hearing  voices,  he  came 
up  to  the  captives. 

"No  talking  there,"  he  said.      "  I  don't  permit  it." 

"You  can't  well  stop  it  unless  you  gag  us,"  answered 
Jack. 

"Can't  I?  We'll  see  about  that.  What  do  you  sup- 
pose you  are  going  to  do  ? " 

"Grin  and  bear  it,"  said  Jack,  with  a  laugh. 

"That's  what  you'll  have  to  do,  until  you're  strung 
up,"  said  Hunston. 

"You  said  that  before  and  yet  you  didn't  do  it." 

Hunston  gnashed  his  teeth  with  rage. 

"Perhaps  I  shall  have  better  luck  next  time,"  he  said. 
"I've  got  you  safe  enough  now." 

"Didn't  Palembang  burn  finely,  and  didn't  I  set  your 
chiefs  milling  like  steam  ?  " 

"  Don't  cheek  me.  If  you  do,  you'll  find  yourself  in 
the  wrong  box,  I  can  tell  you,"  said  Hunston,  angrily. 

"  You  can  tie  my  arms,  but  you  can't  stop  my  tongue, 
unless  you've  got  a  gag,"  said  Jack. 

"Can't  I  I  What  does  that  taste  like?  "  was  Hunstons 
answer. 

He  hit  Harkaway  in  the  face  with  all  his  might,  and  as 
Jack  could  not  use  his  arms  to  steady  himself,  he  fell 
backwards. 

The  blood  streamed  from  his  nose,  and  he  was  a  good 
deal  hurt 

' '  That's  plucky, "  he  said. 

"Do  you  want  another?"  asked  Hunston. 

"You  can  pitch  in  as  long  as  you  like  to  be  coward 
enough.  I  can't  stop  you,"  replied  Jack.  "But  just 
untie  my  arms,  and  I'll  give  you  toko  for  yam,  my  boy  !  " 

"Get  up." 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  25 

"  I  shan't.  You  knocked  me  down,  and  you  may  pick 
me  up,  or  ask  some  of  your  niggers  to  do  it " 

"Not  likely,"  said  Hunston.  "If  you  don't  get  up, 
I'll  kick  you  till  you  do.  How  would  you  like  a  toe  in 
the  ribs  ? " 

He  suited  the  action  to  the  word,  and  Jack  contrived 
in  some  way  to  get  on  his  feet. 

"All  right,  Mister Tuan  Biza  Hunston,"  he  said.  "  I'll 
be  one  with  you  before  long." 

"You  won't  have  the  chance,"  said  Hunston. 

"  You  can't  tell  that.  I've  spared  you  once  or  twice, 
but  the  next  time — if  ever  it  does  come — it  will  be  a  case 
of  a  tombstone,  with  something  written  on  it." 

"What?': 

"Oh,  something  like  this.  '  Here  lies  Harry  Hunston, 
the  biggest  blackguard  who  ever  disgraced  the  name  of 
Englishman.'" 

' '  You  dare  to  say  this  to  me  ?  "  cried  Hunston  fran- 
tically. 

"  Why  shouldn't  I?  Do  you  want  to  give  me  another 
nose-ender  ?  Do  it  if  you  like  ;  you  are  cock  now,  and 
I'm  only  a  hen." 

"  Wait  till  you  dance  on  nothing,  and  then  you'll  alter 
your  tone." 

"Think  so?"  said  Jack,  beginning  to  whistle  "The 
Night  before  Larry  was  Stretched  ! " 

Going  up  to  Harvey,  Hunston  said — 

"Walk  on  with  me.     I  want  to  talk  to  you." 

"All  right,"  said  Harvey. 

They  separated  themselves  from  the  other  prisoners, 
and  went  on  a  little  ahead. 

"  I've  no  particular  ill  feeling  towards  you,"  continued 
Hunston,  in  a  slightly  embarrassed  manner,  "though 
you  were  always  a  friend  of  Harkaway's." 

"I'm  not  ashamed  of  it.  Jack  and  I  are  like  brothers," 
said  Harvey. 

"You  won't  be  long,  for  Harkaway  will  be  as  dead  as 
a  door-nail  before  this  time  to-morrow." 

"And  I?" 

"  Your  fate  depends  upon  yourself.  I  am  all-powerful 
with  the  Pisangs,  though  I  do  not  think  my  influence 
would  suffice  to  save  Harkaway,  even  were  I  disposed 
to  try." 


26  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"\Vhy  not  ?  "  asked  Harvey. 

"The  chiefs  are  so  ashamed  of  being  humbugged  by 
him  last  night,  and  they  are  enraged  as  well  at  the  burn- 
ing of  Palembang.  He  set  the  place  on  fire,  and  there 
is  scarcely  a  house  left  standing.  All  the  people  are 
camped  out." 

"Can't  they  be  generous  to  an  enemy  ?  " 

"  They  don't  understand  the  word,"  replied  Hunston, 
"but  you  I  can  save.  They  will  be  content  with  tortur- 
ing and  hanging  Harkaway,  and  that  black  Limbian 
thief  of  a  servant  you've  got" 

"Monday  ?" 

"I  do  not  know  what  you  call  him." 

"  Oh  !  he's  harmless  enough.  Show  yourself  a  man 
for  once,  Hunston,  and  let  us  all  go  free.  We  will 
undertake  not  to  molest  you  any  more." 

"Can't  be  done  at  the  price,  my  boy.  There  is  an 
old  score  between  Harkaway  and  myself,  which  must  be 
rubbed  out  this  time,  and  I  would  not  spare  him  if  I 
could. " 

"If  that  is  all  you  have  to  tell  me,  you  might  have 
saved  me  the  pain  of  listening  to  it,"  said  Harvey,  in  a 
tone  of  disgust. 

"It  is  not  all." 

"Let  me  go  back  to  Jack.  I  don't  care  about  the 
society  of  a  butcher. " 

"Who's  a  butcher ?  " 

"  You  are  ;  and  an  inhuman  brute  into  the  bargain.  I 
will  say  it,  if  you  kill  me  for  it.  You  are  not  so  good  as 
a  butcher  by  a  long  chalk." 

"Take  care,"  exclaimed  Hunston,  with  a  savage, 
vindictive  glance  in  his  snake-like  eye.  "  I  repeat  that 
I  don't  wish  to  harm  you.  Listen  to  me.  I  feel  rather 
lonely  among  the  Pisangs,  having  no  one  to  talk  to, 
except  Emily." 

"And  her  father?" 

"  He  is  dead." 

"How  was  that?" 

"She  swears  I  did  it;  but  I  didn't  want  the  fool  to 
kick  the  bucket.  He  insulted  me,  and  I  had  him  publicly 
flogged  with  bamboos,  and  I  suppose  his  constitution 
couldn't  stand  it,  though  I  only  ordered  him  to  receive 
two  hundred  strokes." 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  27 

"  Why,  it's  barbarous  !  "  said  Harvey. 

"At  all  events,"  resumed  Hunston,  "it  knocked  old 
Scratchley  off  his  perch,  and  Emily  hates  me  like  bricks 
for  it.  So  you  see  I  want  a  chum." 

"  You've  got  your  Pisang  chief,"  said  Harvey. 

"No  good  at  all.  I  could  cut  a  better  chum  out  of  a 
cocoanut  than  any  of  them  would  make.  You  be  my 
friend,  Harvey,  and  you  shall  not  die." 

"  What !  "  replied  Dick,  with  a  feeling  of  loathing  and 
horror  ;  "I  pal  up  with  you  ? " 

"Why  not?" 

'  After  what  you've  just  told  me — after  your  vindictive 
hatred  to  Jack — your  flogging  old  Scratchley  to  death — 
and  your  determination  to  make  the  daughter  marry  the 
murderer  of  her  father,  whether  she  will  or  not  ?  " 

"  You  put  it  rather  strongly,"  said  Hunston,  cowering 
beneath  the  withering  look  Harvey  gave  him. 

"  Not  a  bit  too  strong,"  answered  Harvey. 

"Do  you  consent?" 

"Consent?  I  should  think  not,  indeed  I'd  die  a  thou- 
sand deaths  first.  You  won't  catch  me  buying  my  life 
at  such  a  price.  I'd  rather  chum  with  a  burglar.  The 
most  desperate  convict  is  a  greater  gentleman  than  you." 

"Die,  then!"  replied  Hunston  savagely,  "you're  a 
bigger  fool  than  I  took  you  to  be. " 

"If  I  had  my  hands  loose,  I'd  punch  your  ugly  head 
for  insulting  me  by  such  an  offer,"  cried  Harvey. 

"Don't  provoke  me  too  far,"  said  Hunston;  "or  I'll 
serve  you  as  I  did  Scratchley. " 

Harvey  turned  round  and  walked  away  without  giving 
him  any  answer. 

Hunston  was  mad  with  rage. 

Speaking  in  the  native  language,  he  cried — "  Halt !  " 

Instantly  the  Pisangs  stopped,  and  looked  to  theii 
leader  for  orders. 

"Two  of  you  seize  that  fellow,"  Hunston  went  on; 
"strip  him,  and  tie  him  to  a  palm-tree.  Two  more  of  you 
break  off  a  couple  of  long  bamboos,  and  give  him  twenty 
cuts  as  hard  as  you  can  lay  them  on.  Twenty  from  each 
of  you." 

In  an  instant  Harvey  was  seized,  and  tightly  bound 
with  thick  rattans.  His  jacket  and  shirt  stripped  off,  and 
his  back  laid  bare. 


fS  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  ADVENTURE 

"  III  teach  you  to  cheek  me,  my  hearty,"  said  Hunston, 
Smiling  bitterly.  "  I'm  king  here,  and  YOU  shall  know  it* 

Harvey  made  no  answer,  feeling  that  it  would  be  of 
no  use  to  appeal  to  his  tormentor. 

There  was  nothing  for  it,  as  Jack  had  said,  but  to  "  grin 
and  bear  it." 

Nevertheless,  he  gnashed  his  teeth  angrily  and  waited 
with  a  sinking  feeling  at  his  heart  for  the  first  strokes  of 
the  supple  bamboos. 

He  was  not  kept  long  in  suspense. 

"  Whish !  whish  ! "  They  came  with  a  sound  like  a 
hiss  through  the  yielding  air,  and  his  back  felt  as  if  some 
one  was  stripping  off  the  skin  with  a  sharp  knife. 


CHAPTER  VL 
MONDAY'S  DODGE. 

IF  Hunston  expected  to  have  the  triumph  of  hearing  his 
victim  howl  and  cry  for  mercy,  he  was  disappointed. 

He  bore  the  infliction  bravely. 

At  times  low  wailing  moans  escaped  him,  which  were 
wrung  from  him  by  the  severity  of  the  pain. 

But  that  was  all ;  and  when  they  cast  him  loose,  after 
giving  him  the  last  cut,  he  trembled  violently,  while  they 
dressed  him  again,  and  then  rejoined  Jack,  who,  power- 
less to  help  him,  had  looked  on  with  frantic  rage. 

"  Did  I  bear  it  well  ? "  asked  Harvey  in  a  whisper. 

"  Like  a  trump.  Never  mind,  Dick,  I  hope  it's  only  lent 
We'll  pay  him  back  again  before  long.  What  was  it  for  ? " 

"  He  offered  me  my  life  if  I'd  be  his  friend,  and  I  told 
him  to  go  to  Jericho,"  answered  Harvey. 

"  Did  he  say  anything  about  me  ?  " 

"Yes.  You're  a  gone  coon.  Your  case  is  past  pray- 
ing for ;  but  now  we're  both  tarred  with  the  same  brush, 
and  I  suppose  the  cowardly  brute  will  have  it  all  his  own 
way. " 

"Perhaps  Mole  and  the  Limbians  will  come  soon." 

"They  will  come,"  replied  Harvey,  "of  that  I'm  cer- 
tain ;  but  the  mischief  is,  they  may  come  too  late.  How 
sny  back  burns  I " 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHOKE.  29 

"  I  should  think  so.  I'll  ask  Hunston  if  his  fellows 
have  got  any  oil,"  said  Jack  who  added  aloud — "Hun- 
ston !  " 

"What  is  it ? "  was  the  reply. 

"  May  your  men  rub  some  oil  on  Harvey's  back !  " 

"  Not  a  drop." 

"  You  are  torturing  him,"  said  Jack,  whose  face  flushed 
angrily. 

' '  Just  what  I  want  to  do.  You  don't  suppose  I  had 
him  flogged  for  nothing,  do  you  ?  And  you'd  best  shut 
up,  or  I'll  give  you  a  dose  of  it.  Tell  him  he'll  be  out  of 
his  misery  to-morrow,"  answered  Hunston  with  a  laugh. 

Jack  was  about  to  make  some  reply,  when  Harvey 
touched  his  sleeve. 

"Don't, "he  said,  "it's  no  use.  You  might  as  well 
talk  to  a  stone  wall  ;  and  I  shouldn't  like  you  to  cop  it  as 
well  as  me." 

Much  against  his  will,  Harkaway  remained  silent. 

"  You're  right.  We  must  bide  our  time ;  though  I 
should  like  to  have  five  minutes'  play  with  my  fists  with 
him  in  the  open.  He  might  tie  one  hand  behind  me  if  he 
liked,  and  then  I'd  back  myself  to  lick  him." 

"He's  a  nice  pup  ;  but  we'll  make  him  yelp  before 
we've  done  with  him,"  replied  Harvey, smarting  with  pain. 

In  a  short  time  a  halt  was  ordered,  and  a  guard  being 
established,  the  Pisangs  threw  themselves  down  to  rest. 

The  heat  of  the  sun  had  been  great,  which  made  the 
march  very  fatiguing. 

Glad  to  follow  their  example,  the  captives  sank  on  the 
hard  ground. 

Presently  Monday  looked  round  him  ;  all  was  still. 

"You  sleep,  Mast'  Jack  ?  "  he  whispered. 

"No,"  replied  Harkaway,  "for  my  mind  is  so  full  of 
disagreeable  thoughts  that  I'm  not  likely  to  be." 

"  Lie  still.     Monday  use  um  teeth." 

"What  for?" 

"Cut  in  two  the  rattans  ;  then  Mast'  Jack  make  a  dive 
for  the  woods,  and  get  off,"  continued  Monday. 

"It's  not  a  bad  dodge,  but  I'd  rather  you  did  it  for 
Harvey.  I  can  take  care  of  myself;  something  always 
turns  up  for  me,"  answered  Jack. 

"Very  well,"  replied  Monday. 

He  rolled  over  a   little,  and  got  nearer  to  Harvey,  to 


30  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  ADVENTURES 

whom  he  communicated  his  plan,  and  soon  his  teeth  were 
at  work. 

In  ten  minutes  Harvey  was  free. 

"Run,  Dick,  for  your  life,"  whispered  Jack  ;  "and  go 
zigzag,  so  that  they  won't  be  able  to  hit  you  if  they  fire. 
There  is  only  Hunston  who  knows  how  to  use  a  gun, 
and  the  lazy  beggar  is  snoring. " 

"Aren't  you  coming  too?  "  asked  Harvey. 

"No.  Monday  and  I  will  stop.  We  can't  all  hope  to 
get  away." 

"  I  can't  leave  you." 

"But  you  must.  Think  how  much  you  can  do  forme. 
There  are  arms  in  the  boat,  and  you  can  come  and  rescue 
me.  Whether  you  are  successful  or  not,  you  must  try  to 
get  away.  I  got  you  into  this  mess  by  asking  you  to  stop 
to  help  me  to  carry  off  Emily  from  Hunston.  Poor 
Emily  !  " 

Jack  sighed. 

"If  anything  should  go  wrong  with  me,  Dick,"  he  con- 
tinued, "  promise  me  you'll  be  a  brother  to  Emily.  She 
mustn't  marry  Hunston. ' 

"  She  shan't  if  I  can  help  it." 

"  I  may  be  a  croaker  by  this  time  to-morrow  ;  there's 
no  telling. " 

"Well,  I'll  go,  in  the  hope  of  being  of  use  to  you,"  said 
Harvey.  "Good-bye." 

"Good-bye,  old  flick,"  replied  Jack,  trying  to  be  jocular 
once  more. 

"God  bless  you  !  "  said  Harvey. 

The  next  minute  he  was  crawling  on  his  stomach 
towards  a  dense  jungle. 

He  had  reached  it,  and  was  just  about  to  plunge  into 
it,  when  a  Pisang  saw  him. 

Uttering  a  fierce  yell,  he  discharged  the  gun  Hunston 
had  given  him. 

So  bad  was  his  aim,  that,  instead  of  hitting  Harvey,  he 
shot  a  comrade  who  stood  near  him 

The  native  fell  to  the  ground  with  a  groan. 

Hunston  sprang  up. 

"You  blundering  fool !"  he  exclaimed.  "What's  the 
matter  ? " 

The  Pisang  explained  that  one  of  the  white  chiefs  had 
escaped. 


A  FLO  A  T  AND  ASHORE.  3 1 

"Which  one?"  cried  Hunston. 

He  ran  to  the  spot  where  he  had  left  the  prisoners. 

Jack  and  Monday  pretended  to  be  fast  asleep. 

Kicking  them  in  the  ribs  he  exclaimed,  "Get  up. 
Where's  Harvey?" 

"  You  needn't  kick  a  fellow  like  that,  in  the  middle  of 
his  first  sleep,"  replied  Jack,  in  a  tone  of  remonstrance. 
"It's  very  hard  a  man  can't  have  a  nap  for  a  few  min- 
utes." 

He  rubbed  his  eyes  and  yawned  drowsily. 

"Where's  Harvey  ? "  thundered  Hunston. 

"How  should  I  know?  Don't  I  tell  you  I've  been 
nodding  ? "  replied  Jack. 

Turning  to  the  Pisangs  Hunston  said — "  After  him  1  I'll 
have  all  your  lives,  if  you  don't  catch  him." 

By  this  time,  however,  the  fugitive  had  got  a  good  start, 
and,  though  the  Pisangs  ran  hither  and  thither,  they  could 
not  find  him. 

Hunston  foamed  at  the  mouth  with  rage. 

"Now,  that's  what  I  call  a  shabby  trick,"  remarked 
Jack.  "  He  didn't  appreciate  your  kindness  at  all.  You 
were  going  to  hang  him  to-morrow,  and  he's  stepped  it 
Dick  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  himself ! " 

Jack's  broad  grin  irritated  Hunston. 

' '  What  do  you  want  to  work  me  up  for  ?  "  he  exclaimed. 
"  I'll  treat  you  as  I  did  him,  and  make  a  cat  scratch  your 
back. " 

"Don't  get  wild.  Dick's  a  very  good  fellow,  but  he 
shouldn't  have  taken  his  hook  without  saying  he  was 
going,"  replied  Jack. 

Hunston  turned  away,  and  himself  assisted  in  the  pur- 
suit of  Harvey. 

It  was  fruitless,  however. 

He  had  got  safely  away. 

Then  the  order  to  resume  the  march  was  given,  and 
leaving  the  body  of  the  dead  Pisang,  they  continued  their 
way  to  the  town  of  Palembang,  or,  more  strictly,  what 
remained  of  it. 

Hunston  was  more  sullen  than  ever ;  but  he  comforted 
himself  with  the  reflection  that  Jack  and  Monday  were 
still  in  his  power. 

They  reached  the  smoking  ruins  of  the  town  about 
nightfall,  weary  and  foot-sore. 


32  JACK  HARKAWAY'S  ADVENTURES 

The  people  had  made  themselves  rude  shelters  of  boughs 
and  grass. 

Loud  were  the  lamentations  over  their  burnt  property, 
and  their  household  utensils,  for  only  a  few  had  saved 
even  the  necessary  implements  of  domestic  use. 

The  fire  occurring  in  the  night  time,  had  taken  all  by 
surprise. 

Owing  to  the  high  wind  prevailing,  its  progress  had 
been  very  rapid. 

Jack  and  Monday  were  placed  in  one  of  the  few  houses, 
which,  owing  to  their  isolated  position,  the  flames  had 
not  reached. 

The  door  was  shut,  and  they  were  left  to  brood  over 
their  coming  fate. 

"Well,  Mast'  Jack,"  said  Monday,  "how  um  like  it 
now  ? " 

"Oh,  tol  lol ;  I'm  pretty  bobbish,"  replied  Jack.  "I 
think  if  I  was  going  to  be  hanged  in  five  minutes,  I  should 
sing  my  prayers  instead  of  saying  them." 

"  It  what  you  call  possum  up  um  gum  tree  now,  sare." 

"And  a  very  tall  gum  tree,  too,"  said  Jack. 

"  P'raps  Mist' Mole  come  in  night  and  walk  into  um 
Pisang." 

"No  such  luck,  I'm  afraid." 

There  was  a  great  noise  outside,  and  looking  through  a 
crack  in  the  wall,  Jack  saw  the  Pisang  warriors  beating 
back  the  crowd. 

They  had  heard  that  Jack  was  the  cause  of  the  destruc- 
tion of  their  city,  and  they  wanted  to  get  at  him  and  tear 
him  in  pieces. 

But  Hunston  reserved  him  for  public  execution,  and 
the  wild  untamed  mob  was  driven  back. 

"Want  to  lynch  us, "  remarked  Jack.  "  Amiable  beings, 
these  Pisangs.  I  wish  my  hands  were  not  tied." 

"Suppose  Monday  try  um  teeth,  sare  ;  and  then  you 
untie  Monday  when  you  free  ! " 

"Stunning,"  said  Jack.  "Cut  along,  old  chocolate 
and  cream.  You've  got  some  sense  in  your  noddle." 

Monday  set  to  work,  as  he  had  done  in  Harvey's  case, 
resembling  the  mouse  which  liberated  the  lion,  by  gnaw- 
ing the  meshes  of  the  net  in  which  he  was  caught. 

"  Bravo  !  "  cried  Jack,  springing  up  in  a  short  time,  and 
stretching  himself* 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  33 

••That  all  right,  sare  ?  "  asked  Monday. 

"Ripping  !  I  don't  know  if  my  grinders  are  so  sharp 
as  yours  ;  but  I'll  have  a  go  in." 

By  dint  of  biting  and  pulling,  he  contrived  to  liberate 
Monday. 

"  Now  um  fight,  before  they  take  us  to  die,"  said  the 
black  proudly. 

Just  then  there  was  a  crash,  and  something  fell  through 
the  frail  roof. 

"  Hallo  ! "  said  Jack,  "  who's  chucking  bricks  ?  " 

"What  that,  sare?"  asked  Monday. 

"  I  don't  know.  It's  so  beastly  dark  I  can't  see  ;  but 
it  looks  to  me  as  if  one  of  somebody's  teeth  had  dropped 
out. " 

"Oh  !  Mast'  Jack,  how  you  make  um  poor  Monday 
faugh  !  Why  him  do  it,  when  there  so  much  misery  ?  " 
*aid  Monday  chuckling. 

' '  That's  the  time  to  laugh,  ugly  mug, "  answered  Jack, 
groping  about  in  the  dark. 

Presently  he  stumbled  upon  a  heavy  stone. 

"Lucky,"  he  said,  "that  this  litle  pebble  didn't  light  on 
my  nut.  I  know  which  is  the  hardest. " 

"  Ah  !  de  debble  !  "  cried  Monday,  in  a  voice  of  pain. 

"  What's  up  now  ?  "  said  Jack, 

"  Musquito  bite  him  on  the  nose,"  answered  Monday 
ruefully.  "  How  um  sting  !  " 

"Squash  him,  then,"  cried  Jack.  "  I  thought  I  heard 
one  of  the  beggars  buzzing  about.  I  say,  Monday,  this 
stone  didn't  come  here  by  accident." 

"  How  him  know  that,  sare?  " 

'*  Because  I  can  feel  a  bit  of  paper  tied  to  it." 

"Paper?" 

"  Yes  ;  and  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  there  was  something 
written  on  it.  Blow  the  darkness  !  It's  no  good  asking 
you  if  you've  got  a  match  in  your  pocket,  as  one  could  in  a 
civilised  country  ;  and  as  we're  not  cats,  we  can't  see  in 
the  dark,"  said  Jack. 

' '  The  moon  him  shine  through  that  crack,  sare. " 

"  By  Jove  !  That  will  do.  There  are  more  ways  of 
killing  a  dog  than  hanging  him,  Monday,"  Jack  said,  in 
great  glee. 

He  knelt  down  near  the  crack,  and  saw  that  the  bit  of 
paper,  a  very  small  one,  had  been  written  on  with  a  pencil. 
3 


34  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

The  writing  was  that  of  a  woman. 

"  Emily  for  a  hundred  !  "  he  muttered. 

With  some  difficulty  he  contrived  to  read  : 

"  *  Dearest  Jack " 

"  Dearest !  "  he  said.      "  I  like  that." 

Then  he  went  on  : 

"  '  I  took  a  walk  near  the  coast  to-day,  and  saw  a 
quantity  of  boats  lying  off  near  the  shore,  hidden  partly 
by  the  rock.  They  must  be  your  friends  the  Limbians. 

"  'Keep  up  your  spirits.  I  was  deeply  grieved  to  hear 
you  were  recaptured  ;  but  I  expect  a  night  attack  will  be 
made,  and  if  so,  rest  assured  I  will  open  the  door  of  your 
prison  before  they  can  come  and  kill  you. 

"  'Ever  your  own  loving 
'"EMILY."' 

"  She's  a  brick  ! "  said  Jack,  in  great  exultation. 

' '  What  that,  sare  ? "  asked  Monday  who  was  all  curiosity. 

"  A  friend  has  sent  this  letter  attached  to  a  stone.  The 
Limbians  are  off  the  island. " 

"  My  people.  That  jolly  !  Then  they  not  hang  urn 
after  all,"  said  Monday,  joyfully. 

"  I  never  thought  they  would,  though  it  looked  un- 
commonly black  an  hour  ago.  Hurrah,  Monday  !  You 
weren't  born  to  be  hanged,  you  scoundrel ! "  said  Jack. 

"  Mist'  Mole  come  and  fight  like  um  tiger,  sare.  Mon- 
day like  to  see  Mole  fighting. " 

"  I  think  Mole  will  be  like  the  Yankee,  who  said  to  his 
men,  '  Fight  till  all  your  powder  is  gone,  and  then  run 
away  ;'  and  as  I'm  rather  lame,  I'll  start  now,  before  the 
enemy  comes  up,"  said  Jack  laughing. 

"  Ha  !  ha  !  him  brave  man,"  exclaimed  Monday,  also 
laughing. 

"  Hunston  will  be  sold  this  time." 

The  door  suddenly  opened,  and  a  voice  said,  "  Will 
he?  " 

It  was  Hunston. 

"You're  rather  too  fast,  Harkaway  ;  and  you  shouldn't 
talk  so  loud,"  he  exclaimed.  "These  walls  are  not  very 
thick,  and  you  didn't  think  I  was  listening." 

A  diabolical  smile  played  round  the  corners  of  Hun- 
ston's  mouth  in  the  moonlight 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE  3S 

Jack's  heart  fell  within  him;  and  Monday  would  have 
turned  pale  if  his  skin  had  permitted  him. 

Here  was  adisastrous  interruption  to  their  plan. 
Their  hopes  were  crushed  in  the  bud. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

THE    NIGHT   ATTACK. 

"So,"  continued  Hunston,  "the  Limbian  fleet  is  off 
our  shore?" 

"That  can't  be  very  pleasing  intelligence  to  you,"  re- 
plied Jack,  who  began  to  recover  himself. 

"We  have  a  traitor  in  the  camp,  it  appears,  and  it  is 
lucky  for  her  she  is  a  woman  whom  I  love,  or  she  should 
share  your  fate." 

"  Emily,  you  mean?" 

"Yes;  your  correspondent.  It  was  a  clever  idea  to 
write  you  a  letter,  and  fasten  it  to  a  stone.  But  you  for- 
get the  old  saying  that  'walls  have  ears.'  " 

"  I  forgot  that  you  were  such  a  cad  you  wouldn't  mind 
listening,"  answered  Jack. 

"  You'll  forget  more  than  that  soon,  for  I  mean  to  order 
you  out  for  instant  execution — instant  death,  you  and 
your  black  friend  here,  do  you  understand  that?" 

"  I've  one  comfort,"  replied  Jack,  "and  that  is,  I'm  not 
afraid  to  die.  Don't  you  wish  you  could  say  the  same 
thing?" 

' '  Never  mind.  I  meant  to  have  had  you  tortured,  but 
there  isn't  time  for  that.  It  will  be  torture  enough  to 
know  that  Emily  is  in  my  power." 

Jackf  retted  inwardly , but  outwardly  he  remained  calm. 

"  Heaven  will  protect  her,"  he  said. 

"Will    it?"     answered    Hunston.     "Why    doesn't 
Heaven  interfere  for  you  ?" 

"Perhaps  it  may.  I'm  not  dead  yet;  and  while  I 
have  life  there  is  hope,  you  know,  old  boy,"  Jack  said 
cheerily. 

' '  Not  much  hope  for  you.  I  could  pistol  you  where 
you  stand.  I  don't  know  why  I  shouldn't  do  it,  and 
make  sure  of  you.  I  wouldn't  lose  you  for  ten  years  of 
my  life.  Perhaps  you  are  reckoning  on  your  friends?" 

Jack  made  no  answer. 


36  J*  CtC  HARK  A  IV A  y'S  AD  VENTURES 

He  had  a  faint  hope  that  Mr.  Mole  might  come  up  in 
time  to  save  him. 

Hunston  saw  this  gleam  of  hope  in  his  eyes. 

"  If  they  were  at  this  door  now,  I'd  shoot  you  through 
the  head."  he  said. 

"You're  quite  capable  of  it,"  was  Jack's  cool  answer. 

Suddenly  there  arose  a  great  shouting  outside. 

Jack's  heart  leaped  in  his  bosom. 

Shots  were  fired,  and  then  he  knew  that  the  Limbians 
had  arrived. 

A  loud,  clear  voice  was  heard  exclaiming — 

' '  Fire  away,  my  lads.  No  quarter.  Give  it  them  hot 
and  strong." 

Hunston  turned  pale. 

He  saw  his  prey  escaping  from  his  murderous  clutches, 
just  when  it  was  within  his  grasp. 

"Harvey's  voice,  by  jingo!"  cried  Jack.  "I  must 
have  a  cut  in." 

He  dashed  his  fist  in  Hunston's  face,  just  being  able  to 
see  him  in  the  moonlight  that  streamed  in  through  the 
open  door. 

Hunston  stepped  back,  and  the  blow  grazed  his  temple. 

"Curse  you,"  he  cried  ;   "  I'll  have  one  life  at  least." 

Raising  his  pistol — the  one  he  had  taken  from  Harvey, 
he  fired  it  point-blank  at  Jack. 

Our  hero's  days  were  nearly  numbered. 

Monday,  however,  saw  the  action,  and  quick  as 
thought,  jerked  Hunston's  arm  so  that  the  ball  went 
through  the  roof,  and  the  pistol  fell  from  his  hand. 

"  Touch  and  go,"  said  Jack  calmly. 

Hunston  turned  and  dashed  through  the  open  door, 
seeing  that  all  was  lost 

"After him,  Monday, "said Jack  ;  "he'sgoneto  Emily. 
Now's  our  time;  we  must  save  her." 

But  Hunston  was  too  quick  for  him. 

The  ground  outside  was  filled  with  frightened  Pisangs. 

They  lost  sight  of  him  in  the  crowd,  which  was  panic- 
stricken. 

The  night  attack  had  taken  them  all  by  surprise,  and 
they  were  ill  able  to  cope  with  their  well-armed  as- 
sailants. 

A  dropping  musketry  fire  continued  at  intervals,  and 
Pisangs  fell  on  every  side. 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  37 

At  last  they  began  to  run. 

Men,  women,  and  children,  helter-skelter,  sought  the 
shelter  of  the  woods. 

Monday  and  Jack  stood  a  chance  of  being  shot  by  their 
own  friends,  and  got  separated  in  the  confusion. 

Dreadful  cries  arose  on  all  sides. 

It  was  not  a  defeat  simply. 

It  was  more  than  a  rout  for  it  became  a  massacre. 

Jack  ran  he  knew  not  whither,  seeking  for  Emily  and 
found  her  not. 

No  one  took  any  notice  of  him,  for  all  were  intent  upon 
securing  their  own  safety. 

At  length  Monday  rested  under  a  tree  upon  the  out- 
skirts of  what  had  once  been  the  thriving  town  of  Palem- 
bang. 

The  moon,  which  had  been  partially  hidden  by  drifting 
clouds,  now  shone  out  brilliantly. 

He  heard  groans,  and  was  at  a  loss  to  know  where  the 
sounds  came  from. 

Looking  up,  he  saw  a  man  perched  on  one  of  the  lower 
branches  of  a  tree. 

"You  come  down  out  of  that,"  exclaimed  Monday,  in 
his  own  language. 

"Ah  1  my  good  Pisang,"  replied  the  trembling  voiceof 
Mr.  Mole  ;  "I  mean  you  no  harm.  I  was  forced  to  take 
part  in  this  expedition,  much  against  my  will." 

Monday  laughed  quietly  to  himself,  and  determined  to 
have  some  fun. 

"I  am  a  Pisang  chief,"  he  said;  "and  I  want  the  head 
of  the  Tuan  Biza  of  the  pale-faces." 

"What  a  bother,  I  left  my  gun  on  the  ground,"  Mr. 
Mole  muttered.  "That  infernal  arrow  frightened  me  so 
when  it  grazed  the  calf  of  my  leg,  as  I  was  leading  the 
brave  fellows  to  the  battle,  that  I  sought  the  friendly 
shelter  of  the  first  tree  in  a  scamper." 

' '  Will  the  white  chief  come  down, "  continued  Monday ; 
"  or  must  the  Pisang  warrior  shoot  him  like  a  bird?" 

"Don't  shoot,  my  good  Pisang;  for  Heaven's  sake 
don't  shoot ! "  said  Mr.  Mole  in  a  terrified  tone. 
"Come  down,  then." 

"I  would  gladly  do  so,  if  I  could,  but  I  fear  I  cannot. 
How  on  earth  I  contrived  to  get  up  here  is  a  mystery  to 
me." 


38  JACK  HARK  A  WA  y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"The  white  chief  is  a  coward,  and  he  must  die, "said 
Monday.  "All  the  Limbians  are  conquered,  and  our 
young  men  are  crying  loudly  for  heads. " 

"What  a  fool  I  was  to  come  here,"  said  Mr.  Mole  to 
himself.  "I  wish  I'd  stayed  with  Ambonia  and  Alfura. 
This  is  out  of  the  frying-pan  into  the  fire.  Dear  me  !  I 
think  I  should  have  remained  with  the  boats,  if  that  im- 
petuous boy  Harvey  had  not  suddenly  joined  us,  and  in- 
sisted upon  my  marching  with  him." 

Taking  up  a  stone,  Monday  threw  it  near  Mr.  Mole, 
causing  a  rustling  in  the  leaves  and  a  sharp  hiss  through 
the  air. 

"Is  that  an  arrow?"  cried  Mr.  Mole,  in  abject  terror. 
"  I  say,  you  Pisang  fellow,  don't  do  that.  I'll  come 
down,  at  least  I'll  try.  Oh,  Lord  !  oh,  Lord !  why  did 
my  uncle  die  and  leave  me  a  tea-garden  in  China." 

"  Make  haste  !  the  Pisang  wants  the  white  chiefs  head. " 

"Won't  anything  else  content  you  ?  "  replied  Mr.  Mole. 
"  My  head  isn't  worth  much,  and  I'm  getting  dreadfully 
bald.  Oh  !  why  did  I  leave  England?  Deuce  take  these 
beastly  boughs  ;  I  can't  get  down." 

Monday  threw  up  another  stone,  and  hit  Mr.  Mole  on 
the  leg. 

"Oh,  Lord  1"  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole;  "I  knew  he'd  do 
it.  I'm  wounded.  Oh  !  my  poor  shin.  The  arrow's 
gone  right  through  my  leg.  I  can  feel  the  pain  up  to  my 
knee  already." 

In  his  fright  he  let  go  his  hold,  and  tumbled  rather 
ungracefully  to  the  ground. 

The  distance  was  not  great,  so  that  the  fall  only  shook 
him  a  little  ;  but  he  lay  quite  still. 

"I'll  sham  dead,"  he  thought;  "and  then  the  blood- 
thirsty savage  may  let  me  alone. " 

Monday  grinned,  and  altering  his  voice,  as  he  spoke 
English,  said — 

"  Mist'  Mole  not  know  um  poor  Monday." 

The  effect  was  magical  upon  Mr.  Mole  when  he  heard 
this  speech. 

He  opened  his  eyes,  took  a  look  at  the  well-known 
features  which  he  had  been  too  much  alarmed  to  notice 
closely  before  and  sprang  up. 

His  former  terror  vanished,  and  with  his  countenance 
radiant  with  delight,  he  said — 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  39 

"  You  rascally  black  thief,  if  I  wasn't  so  pleased,  I  do 
think  I  should  be  tempted  to  kick  you  !  " 

"  Take  care,  sare.     Pisang  have  um  head." 

"You  mustn't  play  those  tricks  with  me.  However,  I 
forgive  you.  Yes,  out  of  the  generous  emotions  of  my 
heart,  which  bubble  up  from — from — confound  it,  I  can't 
collect  my  ideas  !  " 

"You  have  snug  place  up  there,  sare,"  said  Monday, 
pointing  to  the  tree. 

"Ah  !  I  crept  up  there  to  rest.  See  how  I  have  been 
fighting.  Seventeen  Pisangs  fell  by  my  hand  alone." 

Monday  looked  as  if  he  didn't  believe  him. 

"You  and  I  have  always  been  good  friends,  Monday," 
said  Mr.  Mole  ;  "and  you  must  promise  me  one  thing. 
That  is,  not  to  say  anything  about  finding  me  up  that 
tree." 

' '  Not  tell  Mast'  Jack,  sare  ;  not  tell  Mast'  Harvey  ?  " 

"Precisely.  They  have  an  unfortunate  habit  of 
making  fun  of  people,  which  they  call  chaffing.  I  detest 
and  abominate  the  practice ;  and  what  I  want  to  impress 
upon  your  uncultivated  mind  is  that  my  courage  is  up 
to  the  average,  I  may  say  beyond  it." 

"  Monday  keep  um  secret." 

"  That's  right  Mum's  the  word  and  you  and  I  will  be 
fast  friends.  I  still  hear  the  sound  of  firing,  and  the 
shrieks  of  the  dying.  Is  it  safe  to  venture  far  away  ?  " 

"Monday  have  a  lark  with  you,  sare,"  replied  the 
black.  "  Fighting  nearly  all  over.  Pisangs  all  beat ;  they 
fly'  way  or  dead. " 

"And  Harkaway?  I  trust  he  is  safe,  and  will  thank 
me  for  the  generous  effort  I  have  made  to  effect  his 
liberation. " 

"Not  know  exactly,  sare,"  replied  Monday.  "Mast' 
Jack  him  gone  somewhere  after  Missy  Em'ly." 

"  Ah  !  I  have  heard  that  he  is  much  attached  in  that 
quarter.  There's  my  gun ;  take  it  up,  and  mind,  it  is  loaded. 
Walk  in  front ;  you  shall  have  the  post  of  honour.  I  will 
follow  close  behind  you,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole. 

' '  We  go  and  find  Mast'  Jack,  eh,  sare  ?  "  replied  Mon- 
day. 

"We  will  endeavour  to  do  so.  I  long  to  shake  him  by 
the  hand,  and  receive  his  thanks  ;  for  I  assure  you,  Mo»- 
day,  that  I  have  risen  in  my  own  estimation  hv  tJae  pro« 


40  JA  CK  HARK  A  WAY'S  AD  VENTURES 

digies  of  valour  I  have  performed  during  this  night's 
work  ;  twenty-seven  Pisangs  did  I  kill." 

"You  say  seventeen  just  now,  sare?" 

"Nonsense.  I  am  like  an  old  war-horse,"  cried  Mr. 
Mole,  after  applying  himself  to  the  contents  of  a  pocket- 
flask  ;  "I  smell  the  battle  afar  off." 

' '  You  great  fighting  man,  sare. " 

"Rather,  my  young  friend.  I  don't  know  how  I  did 
it,  but  my  spirit  carries  me  on.  Seven  and  thirty  Pisangs 
did  I  slay  with  my  own  hand." 

"That  ten  more,"  muttered  Monday. 

"I  laid  about  me  with  an  old  ship's  cutlass,  and  the 
warriors  fell  before  my  prowess  like  leaves  in  autumn. 
Forty-seven  Pisangs  dead  by  my " 

Monday  burst  out  laughing  ;  he  could  not  stand  Mr. 
Mole's  exaggeration  any  longer. 

"  Irreverent  negro  ;  I'll  talk  no  more  to  you.  When  I 
again  recount  my  exploits,  you  may  tell  me  of  it,"  ex- 
claimed Mr.  Mole,  in  high  dudgeon. 

"Come  on,  sare.  This  way.  Quick  march!"  cried 
Monday,  with  military  precision. 

They  walked  cautiously  towards  the  town,  near  which 
the  sounds  of  the  battle  were  dying  away,  though  in  the 
distance  there  was  a  noise  as  of  furious  pursuit. 

The  Limbian  warriors  were  exacting  a  terrible  account 
from  their  old  enemies  the  Pisangs. 


CHAPTER  VIIL 

DEATH   OF  THE   KING. 

THE  morning  broke  serene  and  cloudless,  as  it  almost 
always  did  in  those  regions. 

On  the  part  of  the  Limbians,  the  loss  was  slight,  for 
their  guns  had  given  them  a  great  advantage  over  the 
surprised  and  terror-stricken  enemy. 

Harkaway  had  joined  the  pursuing  party,  but  he  could 
not  contrive  to  find  any  trace  of  Hunston. 

Nor  was  he  more  fortunate  with  regard  to  Emily. 

Both  of  them  had  disappeared  as  completely  as  if  the 
ground  had  opened  and  swallowed  them  up. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  41 

±n  the  morning  he  returned,  jaded  and  weary,  to  find 
Harvey,  Mr.  Mole,  and  Monday,  preparing  breakfast,  by 
means  of  a  fire  they  had  kindled. 

The  Limbians  were  assembled  in  little  parties,  and  all 
did  their  own  foraging. 

Great  was  the  rejoicing  of  the  friends  at  being  together 
safe  and  sound. 

"I  owe  my  life,"  said  Jack;  "to  you,  Dick,  and  our 
faithful  Monday." 

"And  me,"  continued  Mr.  Mole.  "  May  I  not  claim 
some  share  in  the  good  work  ?  " 

"Of  course,"  answered  Jack;  "we  haven't  forgotten 
you,  sir  ;  and  you  shall  have  a  medal  or  a  statue,  which- 
ever takes  your  fancy  most." 

"I  think  I  should  prefer  a  medal,"  replied  Mr.  Mole, 
after  a  moment's  reflection. 

"What  shall  we  put  on  it,  sir?  "  asked  Harvey. 

"Let  me  see.  Two  natives  fighting,  and  trying,  to 
kill  a  white  man — myself " 

"Up  a  tree,  sare?"  put  in  Monday,  with  a  grin. 

Mr.  Mole  gave  him  a  warning  look. 

"Behind  one,  if  you  like,  firing  at  them,  and  under- 
neath the  words,  '  In  token  of  bravery  and  devotion  ; ' 
while,  on  the  reverse,  you  may  put  my  portrait,  and 
write,  '  Isaac  Mole,  a  tried  friend,  and  a  fierce  soldier. ' " 

"It  shall  be  done,  sir,"  replied  Jack,  who  could 
scarcely  refrain  from  laughing  at  Mr.  Mole's  vanity. 

Taking  Harvey  on  one  side,  Jack  informed  him  of  his 
vain  search  for  Emily. 

"I  too  have  looked  for  her,"  replied  Harvey.  "You 
know  when  I  left  you,  I  ran  to  the  coast,  and  found  the 
Limbians  under  Mole  and  the  king  landing  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"They  were  delighted  to  see  me,  and  I  hurried  their 
movements,  because  you  were  in  danger.  When  we 
reached  Palembang,  I  did  all  I  could  to  discover  you  and 
Emily,"  continued  Harvey. 

"  Hunston's  got  a  hiding-place  somewhere,"  said  Jack 
thoughtfully. 

"We'll  unearth  the  fox." 

"  I  fully  intend  to  do  so,  but  the  task  will  be  difficult. 
These  islands  abound  with  rocks,  mountains,  and 
caverns,  to  which  the  natives  have  taken  themselves. " 


42  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"So  Monday's  been  telling  me,"  replied  Harvey. 

"I  mean  to  stop  here,  Dick,  till  I've  found  her,"  con 
tinued  Jack. 

"You  won't  get  the  Limbians  to  stay,  I'm  thinking. 

"Never  mind  them.  They've  done  their  work,  and 
they've  beaten  the  enemy.  So  it  is  only  natural  that 
they  should  want  to  get  back  to  their  homes,  and  cele- 
brate their  rites  and  customs." 

"I  told  them  we'd  have  no  head-hunting  or  eating 
captives,"  said  Harvey. 

"  What  did  they  say  ?" 

' '  The  king  did  not  like  it ;  but  he  gave  orders  that  no 
prisoners  were  to  be  taken,  so  that  has  made  the  battle 
more  bloody." 

"I  expect  there  are  an  awful  lot  of  the  poor  Pisang 
beggars  killed  ? " 

"Awful!     Over  a  hundred,  I  expect,"  replied  Harvey. 

"They  won't  get  over  this  wollopping  in  a  hurry,"  Jack 
said.  "And  now  I'll  tell  you  what  we'll  do.  The  Lim- 
bians may  go  home." 

"Yes." 

"We'll  go  and  look  out  for  a  cave  near  the  coast,  so  as 
to  have  an  open  front  to  prevent  a  surprise,  if  the  disor- 
ganised band  of  Pisangs  should  try  to  have  another 
go-in." 

"And  you  and  I,  with  Mole  and  Monday,  form  the 
garrison.  I  see,"  replied  Harvey. 

"Exactly.     That's  the  ticket  to  a  T,"  Jack  answered. 

"I've  got  stores  in  my  boat ;  and  Mole  brought  over  a 
lot  of  grub,  and  powder,  and  things,"  continued  Harvey. 

"We  shan't  hurt  And  now  let's  have  some  break- 
fast." 

Mr.  Mole's  voice  was  heard  exclaiming — 

"Now,  then,  Harkaway,  and  you,  Harvey,  come  and 
join  me  in  a  cup  of  tea.  Who  says  bacon,  and  who'll 
have  parrot  ?  " 

"  I'll  leave  the  cockatoo  to  you,  sir,  and  go  in  for  a 
slice  of  pig,"  replied  Jack. 

Monday  handed  some  tea  to  his  young  masters,  but  in 
doing  so  stumbled,  and  let  the  calabash  fall. 

"  Hold  up  !"  cried  Jack.  "You're  as  awkward  as  a 
Newf  un'land  pup ;  not  half  so  clever,  and  twice  as 
ugly." 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE,  43 

Monday  apologised,  and  the  breakfast  proceeded. 

Presently  an  old  chief  name  Madura  came  up,  and 
beckoned  to  Jack,  who  went  out  to  meet  him, 

' '  Anything  happened  ?  "  asked  Jack  in  the  native  lan- 
guage. 

"  Bad  news  for  Matabella,"  replied  Madura. 

"Indeed  !  " 

"  During  the  battle,  King  Lanindyer  received  a  wound, 
from  which  he  has  just  died." 

"  Monday's  father  dead  ?  "  cried  Jack.  "  By  Jove,  I'm 
sorry  for  that." 

The  old  chief  had  wished  to  break  the  news  gently  to 
Monday,  but  Jack's  loud  exclamation  reached  his  ears, 
he  instantly  stopped  eating,  and  ran  away  to  the  camp. 

Madura  and  Jack  followed  him. 

They  found  him  kneeling  by  the  side  of  the  dead  body, 
which  he  kissed  repeatedly,  uttering  wild  lamentations 
the  while. 

The  king  had  fallen  fighting  bravely,  pierced  through 
the  heart  by  an  arrow. 

All  the  Limbians  were  profoundly  grieved,  and  they 
talked  together  in  whispers. 

The  ruined  city  was  close  by. 

Great  numbers  of  dead  bodies  lay  on  all  sides,  as  yet 
unburied. 

The  distant  mountains,  in  which  the  defeated  Pisangs 
had  taken  refuge,  were  lying  like  a  blue  cloud  on  the 
western  horizon. 

A  dizzy  light  played  over  the  surface  of  the  land. 

The  sun  looked  like  a  shield  of  red-hot  iron,  and  the 
hot  earth  scorched  the  feet 

Madura  took  Monday  by  the  arm,  and  led  him  away, 
saying— 

' '  You  are  called  to  the  throne  of  your  fathers ;  but 
though  your  destiny  is  high,  remember  that  he  who  gazeth 
on  the  sky  may  stumble  on  the  earth." 

"  Oh  !  my  father  !"  replied  Monday.  "  Why  are  you 
taken  away  from  me?" 

"  Recollect,"  said  Jack,  "  that  you  have  plenty  of 
friends,  and  you  are  now  king." 

"  No,  no  !  "  cried  Monday,  "  I  will  not  be  the  Tuan 
Biza  of  my  people.  I  will  remain  with  you.  Do  not  send 
me  away.  Monday  will  die  if  he  be  not  with  you." 


44  JACK  HARKA  WA  y'S  ADVENTURES 

Touched  by  the  poor  fellow's  devotion,  which  was  ex- 
pressed by  a  piteous  look,  Jack  replied — 

' '  I  like  to  have  you  with  me ;  but  who  is  to  reign  over 
Limbi  ?  " 

"  My  uncle  Selim.  O  Madura,  make  Selim  your  king. 
He  is  a  great  chief.  Let  him  reign. " 

"  He  who  can  neither  save  himself  nor  hunt  his 
enemies  ?  "  replied  Madura.  "  What  is  he  but  a  broken 
spear,  and  a  blunted  sword  ?  " 

"Never  mind,"  said  Monday.  "The  man  who  has 
health,  strength,  and  courage,  has  three  parts  that  will 
not  turn  white  in  the  fire. " 

"Stay  with  your  people  and  ruleover  them,  O  Matabel- 
ia !  "  said  Madura  sternly.  "What  are  the  white  men. 
that  they  should  rob  us  of  our  king  ?  "  Has  it  not  been 
said  that  the  unpurposed  man  makes  his  meal  of  the 
clouds?  " 

"  I  will  not  leave  my  friends,  the  white  men,"  answered 
Monday  determinedly.  "  Call  upon  Selim,  O  Madura, 
he  will  make  a  wise  and  good  king. " 

"  Young  man,"  replied  Madura,  angry  at  being  baffled, 
"  for  six  things  is  a  fool  known — Wrath  without  cause, 
change  without  reason,  inquiries  without  object,  putting 
trust  in  strangers,  and  wanting  the  power  to  know  a  friend 
from  a  foe  ;  and  let  me  add,  that  long  experience  maketh 
large  wit." 

"  I'm  very  sorry  for  you,  Monday, "said  Jack  ;  "  very 
much  so  indeed.  It  is  a  great  blow,  and  I  thank  you  for 
wishing  to  stay  with  us.  Think  the  matter  over.  Listen 
to  this  old  swell." 

"  Monday  go  with  you,  Mast'  Jack.  Go  anywhere — 
to  end  of  the  world. " 

"  Don't  be  in  a  hurry  to  decide.  I'll  leave  you  to 
fight  it  out  with  your  chief;  and  if  you  want  my  advice, 
give  me  a  hail." 

He  walked  away,  and  Harvey,  with  Mr.  Mole,  asked 
him  what  had  happened. 

"  Monday's  governor  has  burst  up,"  exclaimed  Jack. 

"  Done  what  ?  "  said  Mr.  Mole,  looking  puzzled. 

"  Bust  up.  Croaked.  Got  knocked  on  the  head  in  the 
scrimmage  last  night." 

"  '  Bust '  is  not  English,  at  least  not  grammatical 
English,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  "  and  I  did  not  understand  you  ; 


A  FLO  A  T  AND  ASHORE.  45 

though  now  I  take  your  meaning.     Is  the  young  savage 

much  affected?" 

"  Frightfully  cut  up,"  said  Jack. 

' '  Dear  me  !  It  is  a  bad  job  ;  but  one  savage  the  less  is 
no  loss  to  civilization.  Finish  your  breakfast" 

"  I  can't  eat, "said  Jack.  "I  haven't  had  a  wink  all 
night.  I'm  more  tired  than  an  elephant  at  noon.  So  if 
one  of  you  will  kindly  fan  away  the  beastly  flies,  I'll  seek 

the  arms  of — of Who  was  that  ancient  swell  whom 

they  called  the  god  of  sleep  ?  " 

"I  was  never  the  cheese  at  classics,"  answered  Harvey. 

"  You  mean  Morpheus,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  •'  who,  with 
Somnus " 

"  Thank  you,  sir.  Won't  it  keep  till  I  wake  up  ? "  said 
Jack.  "  I  know  it  was  Morpheus,  or  one  of  the  family." 

Jack  found  a  retired  spot,  and  was  soon  asleep. 

Harvey  followed  his  example,  and  Mr.  Mole,  applying 
himself  to  his  flask  said — 

' '  What  a  wrong-headed  creature  is  a  boy.  They  waste 
their  opportunities  when  young,  and  as  they  grow  up 
they  have  neither  time  or  inclination  to  learn. " 


CHAPTER    IX. 

BEN  BLUNT  THE  Bo'sUN. 

MONDAY'S  uncle  Selim  was  very  glad  of  the  chance  of 
becoming  king  of  Limbi. 

Being  a  wise  and  good  chief,  he  was  not  unacceptable 
to,  or  unpopular  with,  the  leaders  of  the  little  nation. 

Still  Madura  was  not  willing  that  Monday  should  lose 
his  right  of  succeeding  to  the  throne. 

A  council  was  held. 

It  was  decided  that  Monday  should  be  able  to  assume 
the  kingship  whenever  he  liked,  and  that  Selim  should 
only  reign  in  his  absence. 

"Oh,  my  son,"  said  Madura,  "never  give  up  that 
which  is  within  your  grasp.  The  pearls  in  their  beds  are 
as  thick  as  stars,  but  wishing  never  brought  up  one  of 
them  from  the  bottom  of  the  sea  !  " 

"  Selim  will  make  a  better  king  than  I  should,"  replied 


46  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

Monday.     "  Matabella  is  young,  but  Selim  has  the  wis- 
dom of  age." 

"  The  wise  men  have  said,"  answered  Madura,  "  that 
the  deer  is  swift  on  the  plains,  but  a  child  leads  him  in 
the  streets.  You  are  young,  and  you  must  learn,  and  . 
would  teach  you,  for  the  proverb  is  true  which  says — 
'  The  lamp  may  be  made  of  diamonds,  but  it  dies  without 
oil.'  " 

Monday  was  glad  when  it  was  all  settled,  and  Selim 
made  king. 

He  could  go  away  then,  and  mourn  over  his  dead  father, 
whom  he  loved  dearly. 

Selim  at  once  assumed  the  position  which  the  unani- 
mous vote  of  the  council  gave  him. 

He  decided  that  the  Limbians  should  return  immediately 
in  their  boats,  and  bury  the  late  king  with  all  the  pomp 
usual  on  such  occasions. 

Monday  said  he  would  not  leave  his  father's  body  till 
it  was  in  the  grave. 

Therefore  he  returned  with  his  followers. 

"  Good-bye,  Monday,"  said  Jack,  when  he  heard  what 
had  been  arranged.  "  I  hope  we  shall  see  you  again 
soon  ;  but  don't  stand  in  your  own  light. " 

"  Monday  live  and  die  with  you,  Mast'  Jack,"  he  replied. 
"  If  you  live  in  Limbi  with  me,  then  I  be  king ;  if  you  go 
I  go." 

"  Then  we  shall  see  you  soon  after  the  funeral  ? " 

"  I  come  back  in  boat." 

"  All  right.  I  won't  say  how  grieved  I  am  at  your 
heavy  loss,  Monday.  You  know  what  I  feel,"  cried  Jack. 

He  squeezed  Monday's  hand  as  he  spoke,  and  the  black 
returned  the  affectionate  pressure. 

"  Give  us  your  fist,  Mon.,"  cried  Harvey  ;  "  and  here's 
fortune  to  you  in  a  cup  of  cold  tea — that  is  to  say,  half  a 
cocoanutful." 

Mr.  Mole  sidled  up  to  Monday  as  he  was  going  away. 
'  Monday,  will  you  do  me  a  favour  ?  "  he  said. 
What  that,  Mist'  Mole  ?  "  asked  Monday. 
Tell  my  wives,  I'm  dead,  will  you  ?  " 
Dead  ! " 
Killed  in  battle.     Dead  and  buried." 

In  spite  of  his  engrossing  sorrow,  Monday  could  not 
help  grinning  faintly. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  47 

"What!  Tell  um  lie,  sare?  No;  Monday  never  tell 
torn  lie,"  he  answered. 

"  It  won't  hurt  either  Ambonia  or  Alfura  ;  they'll  marry 
again.  Think  of  it,  my  good  friend,"  urged  Mr.  Mole. 

"  No,  sare  1  Monday  have  him  conscience,  and  he  not 
let  him  tell  um  lie,"  replied  the  black. 

"  Deuce  take  the  beast,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  as  Monday 
walked  away.  "  I  suppose  I  shall  have  those  beauties 
coming  over  here  to  take  me  home  in  a  boat.  A  nice 
look-out  that  would  be.  Heigho !  * 

"  What's  that,  sir?"  asked  Harvey,  who  had  overheard 
the  conversation. 

*'  Oblige  me  by  minding  your  own  business,  Harvey," 
said  Mr.  Mole. 

"  Didn't  I  hear  you  mention  the  names  of  Alfura  and 
Ambonia,  sir  ?  " 

"If  I  did,  what  then?" 

"  Nothing,  sir.  I  thought  you'd  fret  What  is  it  Moore 
says — 

"  I  never  loved  a  sweet  gazelle, 

To  glad  me  with  its  sweet  blue  eye^ 
Than  when  it  grew  to  be  a  swell, 
It  always  used  to  fight  me  shy ; 

and  married  a  market-gardener ." 

"How  shamefully  you  misquote,"  cried  Mr.  Mole  in- 
dignantly. "Moore  is  my  favourite  author,  and  you 
murder  him." 

"Very  sorry,  I'm  sure,  sir." 

Jack  called  Harvey  away  to  take  a  walk  with  him  in  the 
country. 

They  were  well  armed,  and  intended  to  look  for  a 
cave  where  they  could  locate  themselves  while  they  re- 
mained on  the  island. 

They  went  to  the  sea-shore,  and  soon  found  what  they 
wanted. 

All  their  stores  were  removed  into  this  harbor  of  refuge, 
and  they  returned  for  Mr.  Mole. 

"The  Limbians  have  gone,  my  dear  Harkaway,"  cried 
Mr.  Mole ;  "  and  you  have  left  toe  alone  here  at  the 
mercy  of  the  enemy,  as  I  may  say." 

"  You've  got  your  gun,  sir.  Besides  your  reputation  is 
so  great,  that  no  one  would  think  of  attacking  you,"  re- 
plied Jack, 


48  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  'S  AD  VENTURES 

"Is  it,  indeed?  Do  you  think  that  those  benighted 
savages  have  heard  of  me  ?  " 

"I'm  sure  of  it." 

"  What  are  we  going  to  do? "  continued  Mr.  Mole. 

"  Dwell  in  a  cave,  sir.  Harvey  and  I  have  pitched 
upon  a  stunning  place.  Nice  and  dry — no  snakes  ;  not 
too  big ;  close  to  the  sea — and  we  have  put  our  stores  out 
of  the  boat  there." 

"  This  is  foolhardy,  Harkaway,"  said  Mr.  Mole  gravely. 
' '  But  you  shall  not  say  I  deserted  you.  I  will  cast  in 
my  lot  with  you." 

"What's  wrong  now,  sir?  " 

"  You  are  stopping  here  to  rescue  a  chit  of  a  girl,  who 
would  make  Hunston  as  good  a  wife  as  she  would  you." 

Jack  ground  his  teeth. 

"Don't  excite  me,  sir,"  he  said. 

"Bless  me  !  How  like  a  Pisang  you  look,"  cried  Mr. 
Mole.  "I  didn't  know  you  were  so  deeply  smitten." 

"Jack's  very  hard  hit,  sir,"  said  Harvey.  "You  don't 
know  how  spoony  he  is." 

"  I  wish  he  had  enjoyed  my  brief  experience  of  matri- 
mony, that's  all,"  replied  Mr.  Mole. 

"Emily  is  not  Ambonia  or  Alfura  either,"  put  in  Jack. 
"And  letting  temper  alone — though  I'm  sure  she's  the 
sweetest-tempered  darling  in  the  world — wouldn't  it  be 
cowardly  to  leave  her  in  that  scoundrel  Hunston's  power, 
as  long  as  we  can  lift  a  finger  to  get  her  out  of  it  ?  " 

"So it  would,  Harkaway,"  answered  Mr.  Mole.  "You 
appeal  to  my  feelings  as  an  Englishman  there.  I  feel 
them  gushing  and  bubbling  up  from  the  fountain  of  my 
heart.  You  have  touched  a  mine  of  sentiment  in  my 
breast,  and  you  shall  have  my  support. " 

"Thank  you  for  nothing,"  said  Jack  who  was  getting 
angry. 

Mr.  Mole  thought  it  prudent  not  to  hear  this  remark. 

The  guns  were  presently  shouldered,  and  they  marched 
to  their  new  home. 

When  they  reached  it,  they  found  it  very  comfortable. 

Leaves  and  grass  made  good  beds,  and  they  had  such 
provisions  as  they  stood  in  need  of. 

A  watch  was  set,  it  being  arranged  that  two  should 
sleep  while  one  watched. 

Harvey  and  Mr.  Mole  entered  the  cavern,  while  Jack, 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE  4q 

who  was  almost  always  foremost  when  there  was  any- 
thing to  be  done,  remained  outside. 

An  oil  lamp,  such  as  we  have  previously  described,  was 
lighted. 

Mr.  Mole  had  his  cocoanut  shell  and  his  whisky  bottle. 

He  ate  some  dry  bread,  made  of  roughly-beaten  un- 
leavened maize  flour,  and  began  to  imbibe. 

"  Now,"  said  he,  "this  is  what  I  call  jolly.  A  sensible 
man  ought  to  live  in  the  present  hour.  What  is  ambition 
to  me?  I  am  happy  now.  Why  should  I  disquiet  my- 
self about  the  future?" 

"  I  wish  you  wouldn't  disquiet  me,  sir.  I  want  to  go 
to  sleep,"  said  Harvey. 

"Laziness — sheer  laziness,"  answered  Mr.  Mole.  "I 

had  some  hope  of  you  boys  at  Pomona  House,  but 

This  whisky  is  not  bad;  it  has  a  grateful  flavour." 

Harvey  closed  his  eyes,  and  let  Mr.  Mole  have  all  the 
talking  to  himself.  He  was  ill  and  feverish. 

The  punishment  Hunston  had  subjected  him  to,  and 
the  following  excitement  of  attacking  the  Pisangs,  had 
fatigued  him  dreadfully. 

Mr.  Mole  filled  his  half-cocoanut  again,  and  emptied  it. 

"  If  I  crook  my  elbow  a  little  too  much,"  he  murmured, 
*  it  is  excusable  under  the  circumstances.  I  have  no  re- 
spectability here  to  keep  up,  and  I  want  to  forget.  I  will 
seek  oblivion  in  the  flowing  bowl.  Let  the  landlord  fill 
the  bowl,  until  it  does  run  over;  for  to-night  I  mean  to  be 
merry,  and  to-morrow  I  hope  I  shan't  have  a  headache." 

While  Mr.  Mole  was  amusing  himself  in  his  own 
peculiar  fashion  inside  the  cave,  Jack  was  keeping  a  sharp 
lookout. 

It  was  within  an  hour  of  sunset — a  time  when  the  dy- 
ing away  of  nature  in  the  tropics — if  one  may  use  the 
phrase — is  most  apt  to  attack  and  lull  the  senses. 

His  eyes  almost  closed. 

He  leaned  against  the  entrance  to  the  cave,  and  felt 
dreamy. 

Suddenly  a  loud  voice  exclaimed — 

"  What  cheer,  my  hearty?" 

Jack  started  as  if  he  had  been  shot. 

A  British  voice! 

A  British  sailor's  voice  in  that  lone  island! 


50  JA  CK  HARK  A  WAY 'S  AD  VENTURES 

That  such  a  thing  could  happen,  at  such  a  time,  in  such 
a  place,  he  scarcely  thought  possible. 

' '  Who  goes  there  ?  "  he  cried. 

"Who  goes  there?"  repeated  the  voice.  "Why,  who 
do  you  suppose  but  Ben  Blunt  the  bo'sun  ?  " 

Jack  looked  up  and  saw  a  stranger  before  him. 

But  as  he  was  unarmed  apparently,  he  did  not  feel 
alarmed. 

The  stranger  was  dressed  line  a  aaiiot ,  and  had  a  bluS, 
hearty,  good-natured  face. 

"  Was  he  friend  or  foe?* 

That  was  the  question. 


CHAPTER  X 

THB    XOTlBftBftt. 

THE  new-comer  was  unarmed,  and  did  not  ddem  to  b« 

in  the  least  dangerous. 

But  Jack  proceeded  to  act  cautiously. 

Raising  his  gun  he  said — 

"Don't  come  any  nearer,  until  you  have  given  an 
account  of  yourself.  ' 

"Right  you  are,  cap  V  replied  Ben  Blunt  "I'm  no 
sea-lawyer,  and  shan't  spin  you  any  yarns. ' 

"  What's  your  ship?  " 

"  Haven't  got  one,  though  this  time  yesterday  I  was 
first  mate  of  as  good  a  ship  as  ever  sailed  the  sea  " 

"  I  thought  you  said  just  now  you  were  a  boatswain  ?  " 
exclaimed  Jack,  suspiciously. 

"Look  'ee  here,  my  hearty,  that's  right  enough.  You 
see  I  was  bo'sun  on  board  the  '  Rattlesnake '  when  I  was 
in  the  R.  N  ;  but  I've  left  the  navy  and  gone  into  the 
merchant  service.  I'm  mate.  Forge  afcead.  What  are 
your  next  soundings?" 

' '  Why  have  you  left  your  vessel  ?    Wrecked,  eh  ?  " 

"No,  I'm  not  wrecked  either.  It's  this  way,"  replied 
Ben  Blunt,  hitching  up  his  trousers,  and  rolling  his  quid 
over  in  his  mouth ;  "  I  shipped  aboard  the  '  Sea-horse  ' 
from  London  to  Shanghai,  and  we  were  on  the  return 
voyage,  when  Sam  Parsons — may  the  old  un  keelhaul 
him  ! — turned  mutineer. " 


AFLOAT  A ND  ASHORE.  5 1 

"  A  mutiny,  eh  ?"  exclaimed  Jack,  beginning  to  under- 
stand 

"May  I  never  eat  salt  junk  again,  if  I'm  telling  you  a 
word  of  a  lie,  cap'n  !  " 

"Go  on ! " 

Jack  was  much  interested  in  the  recital. 

"  Well,  you  see,  sir,  they  killed  the  skipper  and  all  the 
officers,  bar  me.  I  was  a  bit  of  a  favourite  with  the  lads, 
you  see,  and  they  didn't  make  me  go  to  Davy  Jones.  But 
when  that  mutinous  dog,  Sam  Parsons,  who's  what  we 
should  call  in  the  navy  an  A.  B.,  asked  me  to  join  'em, 
'No,'  says  I;  'I'll  see  you  jolly  well  hanged  first,  my 
hearty,  and  then  I  won't.'  " 

•'  Case  of  '  not  to-day,  baker,' "  remarked  Jack,  smiling. 

"It  was  so,  sir.  'Not  to-day,  baker;  call  to-morrow 
with  a  crusty  cottage,'"  answered  Ben  Blunt 

"You  were  quite  right,"  said  Jack ;  "  and  your  experi- 
ence of  discipline  in  the  navy  did  you  good  service." 

"Well,  look'ee  here,  cap'n,"  continued  Ben.  "I'm 
Blunt  by  name  and  blunt  by  nature.  You  may  douse  my 
daylights,  but  I'll  stand  true  to  my  flag.  So  they  talked 
among  themselves,  and  then  they  shoved  me  into  a  boat 
and  landed  me  on  this  here  island." 

"How  long  ago?  " 

"  A  matter  of  maybe  two  or  three  hours,  and  I've  been 
boxing  the  compass,  as  ye  may  say,  and  taking  an  ob- 
servation as  to  how  to  steer  my  course." 

' '  The  mutineers  are  in  command  of  the  ship,  I  suppose  ?  " 
said  Jack. 

"  Devil  a  doubt  about  that,  cap'n  I  They've  got  her, 
and  a  beauty  she  is.  Look  1  there  she  rides  at  anchor 
round  that  point." 

Jack  looked  in  the  direction  indicated,  and  saw  a  ves* 
sel,  dimly  visible,  of  about  eight  hundred  tons  register. 

This  was  the  "  Sea-horse." 

"I  didn't  think  to  meet  an  European,  let  alone  a 
countryman  on  this  outlandish  bit  o'  ground,"  said  Ben. 
"And  now,  sir,  you've  overhauled  me,  are  my  papers 
correct  ? " 

"Quite.  I'm  satisfied,  Ber.  •  and  I  fee!  as  if  I'd  known 
you  for  a  score  of  years  already >"  answered  Jack. 

His  confidence  was  fully  established  in  the  man,  who 
spoke  with  a  genuineness  that  carried  conviction  with  it 


52  JACK  HARKAWAY'S  ADVENTURES 

"Thank  you  kindly,  sir;  and  now,  if  so  be  as  I  may 
ask,  how  did  you  come  to  drop  anchor  in  these  parts?"  ' 

Jack  told  him  how  he  had  been  wrecked  with  his 
friends;  how  the  Pisangs  had  been  defeated:  and  how 
he  was  stopping  to  rescue  a  beautiful  young  lady,  a  cap- 
tive in  the  hands  of  Hunston,  formerly  a  friend,  and  now 
an  enemy. 

"  This  Hunston's  gone  mutinous,"  remarked  Ben  Blunt. 
"  String  him  up  to  the  yard-arm,  cap'n." 

"I've  got  to  catch  him  first,"  said  Jack.  "But  what 
will  your  men  with  Sam  Parsons  do?" 

"They  daren't  go  back  into  our  waters.  They'll  have 
to  potter  about  these  coasts,  sir,"  replied  Ben. 

"  I  wish  we  could  help  you  to  get  back  the  'Sea-horse; 
she'd  take  us  all  back  to  England,"  said  Jack,  thought- 
fully. 

"And  that's  a  true  saying,"  answered  Ben.  "What 
I'm  thinking  is,  cap'n,  that  if  you'll  let  me  sail  along  of 
you,  I'll  sign  articles,  and  go  ahead  this  minute." 

"You  want  to  join  us?" 

"  Heart  and  soul,  sir.  We'll  get  back  the  beautiful 
young  lady  of  whom  you  was  a-speaking.  We'll  hang 
our  mutineers,  or  take  ''em  in  irons  to  the  first  port  where 
there's  a  British  Consul,  and  we'll  sail  her  back  to  old 
England." 

"  A  stunning  idea.  But  there's  a  lot  to  be  done  first," 
answered  Jack.  "However,  I  gladly  accept  your  offer 
of  friendship,  Ben.  You  shall  be  one  of  us." 

"That's  done  me  more  good  than  I  expected,  when 
the  muzzle  of  your  gun  brought  me  up  all  standing  just 
now.  Thank  you  kindly,  cap'n.  I'm  true  blue,  and  you 
wouldn't  find  a  dog  more  faithful  than  Ben  Blunt  to  those 
he  takes  to." 

' '  We've  got  some  stores  inside  the  cave.  Will  you  eat 
something?" 

"I  could  stow  away  a  chunk  of  beef  and  bread,  cap'n, 
for  my  belly  cries  cupboard.  But  I  say,  sir." 

"What?" 

"  Let's  give  one  cheer  for  old  England.  I'm  so  happy 
I'm  fit  to  bust,  and  all  along  of  meeting  you.  Just  now  I 
thought  I  should  die  of  starvation,  or  snakes,  or  tigers,  or 
niggers,  or  some  of  the  varmint  that  grows  here,  and  now 
I'm  up  to  the  mast-head  again.  Just  a  little  un'  for  old 
England,  sir." 


A  FLO  A  T  AND  ASHORE.  53 

"  I'm  with  you,"  cried  Jack.  "  Go  it,  my  old  sea-horse. 
Hurrah  for  Old  England  !  Hurrah  !  Hurrah  !  " 

Ben  Blunt  joined  in,  and  their  ringing  cheers  woke  up 
the  echoes  in  the  island. 

They  did  more. 

They  woke  up  Mr.  Mole,  who  came  out  of  the  cave  in 
a  bad  temper,  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  the  disturbance. 

"What  is  the  meaning  of  this  unseemly  riot,  Harka- 
way? "said  Mr.  Mole.  "It  is  hard  I  cannot  enjoy  my 
natural  rest  And  who  is  this  stranger  ?  " 

"Ben  Blunt  the  bo'sun,  sir,  at  your  honour's  service," 
replied  that  individual. 

"  I  am  in  a  fog.    Explain  the  mystery  to  me,  Harkaway. " 

Jack  did  so. 

"You  see,  sir,"  added  Ben,  "I  cut  down  the  top 
hamper,  and  took  in  all  sail  under  stress  of  weather  ;  but 
I'm  drifted  into  port  after  all." 

"And  we're  going  to  recapture  the  ship,  and  hang  the 
mutineers,  sir,"  said  Jack.  "That's  why  we're  cheering." 

"Mind  you  are  not  cackling  over  an  addled  egg,  my 
young  friend,"  said  Mr.  Mole.  "However,  I'm  glad  to 
see  our  new  friend  Ben,  and  cheerfully  hold  out  the  hand 
of  welcome." 

"The  more  the  merrier,  sir." 

"  And  now  I'll  turn  in  again,"  said  Mr.  Mole  sleepily. 

" Going  to  bye-bye  again,  sir?  Don't  do  that.  We're 
going  to  have  a  can  of  grog  to  celebrate  Ben's  arrival. 
Come  and  join  us  ;  don't  be  a  hen,  sir." 

"  A  hen,  Harkaway?" 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  be  a  cock  for  once." 

"Grog  is  not  to  be  lightly  refused.  You  have  put  a 
different  complexion  on  the  case,  and  I  will  condescend 
to  join  you,"  replied  Mr.  Mole.  "Arouse  that  lazy  slum- 
berer  Harvey,  with  a  poke  in  the  ribs." 

Going  into  the  cave,  which  somewhat  resembled  the 
abode  of  the  robbers  in  "Gil  Bias,  "Jack  woke  up  Harvey. 

"Turn  out,  Dick,"  he  exclaimed. 

"  What  for  ? ;'  asked  Harvey. 

"There's  a  gentleman  from  England  come  to  see  you." 

"  Go  on,"  said,  Harvey,  "  you're  having  larks." 

"  I'm  not,  "answered  Jack.      "  You  go  outside,  and  see. " 

Harvey  did  so,  and  was  at  once  introduced  to  Mr. 
Benjamin  Blunt,  otherwise  Ben  Blunt  the  bo'sun. 


54  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

He  was  much  astonished  at  hearing  his  story,  but,  like 
Mr.  Mole  and  Jack,  delighted  to  have  such  an  addition  to 
their  little  party. 

"Axing  your  pardon,  sir,"  said  Ben,  pointing  into  the 
cave,  "  are  there  any  more  of  them  to  come  out?  " 

"No;  that's  the  lot." 

"  Then  I'll  take  this  mossal  of  victuals  we  was  speaking 
of,  that  is,  by  your  leave,  cap'n,"  said  Ben. 

A  dinner  was  hastily  provided,  and  the  cup  that  cheers 
passed  round. 

Ben  became  a  favourite  in  less  than  no  time. 

He  took  his  turn  in  watching  and  went  out  to  scour  the 
country  with  Jack  to  find  some  trace  of  Hunston,  but  in  vain. 

Days  passed,  and  Jack  grew  sick  at  heart  with  his 
want  of  success. 

They  met  isolated  bands  of  Pisangs  occasionally,  but 
the  poor  fellows  ran  away  like  hunted  hares. 

Their  city  was  burnt,  the  flower  of  their  warriors  killed, 
and  they  were  no  longer  a  great  nation. 

A  week  had  elapsed,  during  which  Jack's  exertions  on 
behalf  of  Emily  had  been  unremitting. 

"I'd  give  my  life  to  save  her,"  he  kept  on  saying  to 
himself. 

One  morning  Ben  the  bo'sun  was  on  the  look-out. 

Suddenly  he  exclaimed — 

"Sail  on  the  larboard  bow,  sir." 

Jack  was  dozing  under  a  tree,  and  thinking  of  Emily. 

"Where  away  ?  "  he  asked,  springing  up. 

Ben  Blunt  pointed  it  out,  and  Jack  saw  a  small  boat 
approaching. 

Taking  up  a  telescope  he  distinctly  made  out  one  man 
in  her. 

As  she  got  nearer  he  recognized  Monday. 

"It's  our  native,  whom  we  call  Monday,"  said  he  by 
way  of  explanation.  "The  faithful  fellow  has  kept  his 
word,  and  is  coming  back." 

In  less  than  an  hour,  guided  by  a  signal  flag,  Monday 
made  the  island,  and  was  shaking  hands  in  true  British 
fashion  with  his  young  master. 

"  Well,  Monday,  what's  the  news  ?  "  asked  Jack. 

"Who  that  man  ?"  inquired  Monday,  pointing  to  Ben. 

Jack  told  him  all  about  the  new  arrival,  but  Monday 
did  not  seem  to  take  kindly  to  him. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASflORE.  55 

"  You  asked  what  news,  sare,"  he  continued  "  Noth- 
ing- much  to  tell.  The  funeral  over  and  now  all  Limbi 
very  gay  celebrating  victory.  It  all  one  big  drink  and 
war-dance.  You  found  Miss  Em'ly  ?  " 

"No  ;  I  wish  I  had." 

"  Some  one  come  for  Mr.  Mole  soon,"  exclaimed  Mon- 
day. 

"  What !  his  wives  are  coming?" 

"That  it,  sare.  Alfura  and  Ambonia  tell  me  they  sail 
over." 

"  We  can't  have  them  here.  There  is  no  room  for  a 
parcel  of  women.  He'll  have  to  look  out  for  a  cave  of 
his  own." 

"  Mist'  Mole  not  like  that  much,  sare, "replied  Monday. 
Adding,  "  Oh,  sare,  here  he  is.  He  heard  all  we  say." 

Mr.  Mole  had  indeed  come  out  of  the  cave,  and  was 
looking  the  picture  of  blank  despair. 

"Harkaway,"  he  said,  in  a  sepulchral  voice,  "is  this 
true  ?  " 

"What,  sir?" 

"About  my — ahem  ! — my  wives  coming  over  here  1 " 

"Monday  says  so,  sir." 

Mr.  Mole  made  a  rush  toward  the  sea  and  Jack,  becom- 
ing alarmed,  ran  after  him. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do,  sir  ? "  he  cried,  as  he  held 
him  back. 

"Let  me  go!"  replied  Mr.  Mole.  "I  will  commit 
suicide.  Let  me  go,  I  say  !  The  awful  prospect  of  Am- 
bonia's  presence  is  more  than  I  can  bear." 

"  Don't  be  silly,  sir,"  Jack  replied.  "If  they  do  come 
we'll  protect  you.  But  perhaps  we  shall  be  gone  away 
before  that  time." 

Mr.  Mole  stepped  on  to  dry  land  again,  and  heaved  a 
deep  sigh  of  relief. 

"  You  have  put  new  life  into  me,  my  young  friend,"  he 
replied.  "I  will  live.  Oh,  that  I  had  the  wings  of  a  bird. 
I'd  like  to  be  a  bird,  Harkaway." 

"Have  a  drink,  sir,  and  pull  yourself  together.  We 
can't  spare  you." 

"What's  that  the  gentleman  says?"  asked  Ben  Blunt 

"  He's  afraid  his  wives  are  coming  to  fetch  him,  Ben," 
replied  Jack. 

"There's  only  one  enemy,  sir,  a  sailor  knocks  under  to, 


56  JACK  ffARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

and  that's  woman.  He's  not  a  true  sailor,  if  he  doesnt 
strike  his  flag  to  a  petticoat,"  replied  Ben  with  a  laugh. 

"My  good,  amiable  and  worthy  tar,"  replied  Mr.  Mole, 
"oblige  me  by  not  indulging  your  merriment  at  my  ex- 
pense. My  domestic  troubles  are  my  own." 

"Belay,  sir!  I'll  put  a  stopper  on  my  tongue,  though 
there  was  no  offence  meant,"  answered  Ben. 

Mr.  Mole  retired  into  the  cave,  and  was  not  seen  again 
all  day,  though  when  Jack  looked  for  him  at  night,  he 
found  him  lying  on  his  back  snoring  hard,  with  an  empty 
bottle  on  each  side. 

When  he  was  gone,   Ben  Blunt  said — 

"May  I  make  bold  to  ask  how  many  wives  the  gentle- 
man has  got,  sir  ?  " 

"  Only  two,"  replied  Jack. 

"Oh,  that's  one  for  week-days  and  an  extra  partner  for 
Sundays  ;  still,  the  ship's  not  short-handed  with  two.  I've 
got  one  at  home,  and  stop  my  grog  if  she  isn't  one  too 
many  sometimes  !  " 

Old  Ben  laughed  heartily,  and  Jack,  taking  Monday 
with  him,  went  out  as  usual  to  search  for  Emily. 

They  had  not  gone  far  before  they  saw  a  Pisang  asleep 
under  a  bush. 

"  Look,  sare,  look  1 "  he  cried. 

"Don't  kill  him,  Monday;  catch  him  alive,"  Jack  re- 
plied, hastily.  "Creep  up  slowly.  He  may  give  us  some 
valuable  information." 

Monday  glided  up  through  the  long  grass  to  where  the 
sleeping  Pisang  lay. 

The  latter  was  unsuspicious  of  the  presence  of  an 
enemy. 

Jack  looked  on  with  his  rifle  at  full  cock,  to  be  ready 
for  any  emergency. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

THE   BIRD   HAS   FLOWN. 

"  HOLD  him  tight,  Monday,"  cried  Jack. 

This  advice  was  not  altogether  unnecessary,  for  a& 
soon  as  Monday  fell  upon  the  sleeping  Pisang  he  awoke, 
and  began  to  writhe  and  wriggle  like  an  eel. 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE  57 

"You  come  help,  sare,"  exclaimed  Monday  out  of 
breath.  How  um  beast  kick." 

"  He's  as  slippery  as  an  eel,"  said  Jack,  coming  up, 
"but  we'll  fix  him.  Soho!  gently  there.  No  kicking 
over  the  traces,  my  boy,  or  I  shall  have  to  take  the  curb 
up  a  hole  or  two." 

In  a  few  minutes  the  Pisang  was  sitting  on  the  ground 
with  his  hands  tied  behind  him  with  a  piece  of  rattan. 

His  face  evinced  the  utmost  astonishment,  mixed  with 
fear. 

That  he  was  doomed  to  lose  his  life  in  some  cruel 
manner,  he  did  not  doubt  for  a  single  moment. 

"I'm  going  to  ask  you  some  questions,"  said  Jack. 

The  Pisang  stared  sullenly  at  him. 

"  If  you  answer  truthfully  I  will  spare  your  life;  if  you 
trifle  with  me  you'll  have  an  ounce  of  lead  showing  the 
daylight  the  way  into  your  ugly  carcase.  Will  you  speak 
the  truth?" 

"  Ya,  ya,  Tuan,"  answered  the  captive,  his  eyes  bright- 
ening 

This  was  equivalent  to  "Yes,  yes,  chief,"  and  it  was 
clear  that  if  he  had  any  information  to  give  he  would  not 
withhold  it. 

"You  know  the  Tuan  Biza  whom  you  call  Hunstani. 
Where  is  he  now?" 

"On  the  island  still." 

"  Do  you  mean  that  he  intends  to  go  away?" 

"  Ya,  all  go  soon,"  replied  the  captive.  "Several  chiefs, 
with  women  and  children,  have  gone  already.  We  are 
not  going  to  remain  in  Pisang,  since  you  have  burned  the 
city  and  killed  our  best  warriors." 

"Where  are  you  going  to?"  asked  Jack. 

"Long,  long  way;  to  the  city  of  the  Golden  Towers," 
answered  the  man. 

Jack  inquired  where  that  was,  but  the  fellow  could  not 
tell  him. 

All  he  knew  was  that  it  was  a  long  way  off,  and  that  it 
was  reached  in  boats  which  sailed  across  the  sea. 

"  Have  you  seen  a  white  woman,  who  was  wrecked  on 
your  coast?"  continued  Jack. 

His  voice  trembled  a  little  as  he  put  this  question,  be- 
cause it  would  let  him  know  something  about  Emily's 
movements,  if  faithfully  answered. 


58  JA  CK  HARK  A  WAY'S  AD  VENTURES 

"Ya,  Tuan." 

"  Is  she  with  Hunstani  ?  " 

"  No,"  the  Pisang  answered  ;  "  she  has  gone  away  with 
the  others  to  the  city  of  the  Golden  Towers." 

Something  like  a  groan  broke  from  Jack. 

"Gone,"  he  repeated.  "  Hunston  has  outwitted  me 
again.  Just  when  I  think  I  have  got  him  into  a  corner, 
he  bests  me. " 

He  paced  up  and  down  impatiently. 

"  Any  more  thing  to  ask  him,  sare  ?  * 

"No." 

"  Monday  let  um  go  ?  " 

"You  may  as  well.  I  promised  him  his  life,  and  I 
have  no  reason  to  think  he  has  been  humbugging  me," 
said  Jack. 

Untying  the  rattan,  Monday  gave  him  a  friendly  kick 
to  start  him. 

"You  go  'long,"  he  said  ;  "you  no  good,  you  can't 
fight.  Go  home  to  the  old  women,  and  say  you've  seen 
your  master. " 

The  Pisang  did  not  stay  to  reply,  he  was  too  glad  to 
get  away  ;  and  running  with  the  speed  of  the  wind,  was 
soon  lost  to  sight. 

Jack  lay  down  under  a  tree,  which  happened  to  be  a 
palm,  and  fretted  and  fumed  at  the  news  he  had  just  heard. 

The  sudden  and  unexpected  emigration  of  the  Pisangs 
was  very  annoying. 

He  had  fancied  that  they  could  not  get  away,  and  that 
sooner  or  later  he  would  discover  the  hiding-place  where 
Hunston  kept  Emily. 

Monday  was  thirsty,  and  wanted  some  cocoanuts,  so, 
without  thinking  of  his  young  master,  he  began  to  throw 
sticks  up  at  the  palm-tree. 

For  a  time  he  was  unsuccessful. 

Then  he  cut  off  a  large  ripe  cluster. 

Jack  at  that  moment  started  up,  crying — 

"It's  a  case  of  no  thoroughfare.  The  way's  blocked, 
and  I'm  floored,  by  Jove  !  " 

He  had  scarcely  spoken  the  words,  than  the  cluster  of 
cocoanuts  hit  him  on  the  back,  which  was  slightly  bent, 
affer  grazing  his  head. 

The  force  of  the  blow  brought  him  on  his  knees,  and 
looking  round,  he  exclaimed — 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE. 


59 


"  Bless  your  eyes,  Monday,  what  foolishness  are  you 
ttp  to  now  ?  " 

"  Monday  him  dry,  sare,  and  knock  down  nut." 

"You  needn't  upset  my  apple-cart,  if  you  are  thirsty. 
I  beg  leave  to  observe  that  my  head  is  not  made  of  cast- 
iron.  " 

Monday  laughed,  and  began  to  suck  a  cocoanut. 

"  Halves  !  "  continued  "  Jack.  I  think  I  deserve  some 
of  the  milk." 

When  they  had  satisfied  their  thirst  they  prepared  to 
return  to  the  cave. 

"  I  am  glad,"  said  Jack,  "I  know  what  the  Pisangs  are 
doing,  though  I  did  not  expect  they  would  leave  the 
island.  That  beggar  told  the  truth,  I  suppose." 

"Yes,  sare,"  answered  Monday  ;  "him  speak  um  truth 
safe  enough.  He  too  much  funk  to  tell  a  lie." 

"  Did  you  ever  hear  of  the  city  of  the  Golden  Towers?  " 

"Yes  ;  Monday  hear  of  him." 

"Where  is  it?  "  asked  Jack. 

"  Great  way  off  over  the  sea.     Go  in  boat." 

"  Who  lives  there  ? " 

"Malay.  All  fierce,  cruel  Malay.  They  have  ships, 
and  go  and  take  other  ships,  either  kill  all  on  board,  or 
carry  them  home  and  make  slave. " 

"You  mean  they  are  pirates." 

"That  it,  sare,"  replied  Monday,  with  a  sagacious  nod. 

"  Is  the  city  made  of  gold,  or  is  that  only  a  tale  of  the 
natives  ? " 

"Once  a  Limbi  man  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Malay, 
he  escape  and  come  back,  and  tell  us  it  one  fine  city  full 
of  towers  and  palaces,  all  made  of  gold." 

"It  must  be  a  fine  place,  though  I  don't  believe  in  its 
being  all  gold.  That  is  a  stretch  beyond  my  imagina- 
tion," said  Jack  thoughtfully. 

"  Oh  !  it  right  enough,  Mast'  Jack,  all  built  of  gold  ! 
Very  fine,  grand  city,"  exclaimed  Monday. 

"Well,  we  shall  have  a  chance  of  judging  soon,  for  I 
mean  to  go  there." 

"How  go  there,  sare?" 

"You  have  heard  Ben  Blunt  speak  of  his  ship  the 
1  Sea-horse, '  which  the  mutineers  have  got  possession  of?  * 

**  Yes  ;  Monday  hear  him  talk  of  um." 

"I  mean  to  have  that  shin." 


60  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  'S  AD  VENTURES 

"That  jolly,  Mast'  Tack.  Fine  thing  to  have  ship  of 
one's  own,  and  sail  bout  anywhere,"  said  Monday. 
*'  But  how  it  to  be  done  ?  " 

"You  leave  that  to  me;  we'll  work  it  somewhow," 
Jack  answered  confidently. 

It  was  now  noon,  and  the  heat  of  the  sun  was  so  in- 
tense that  they  were  glad  to  regain  the  cool  precincts  of 
the  cave. 

No  one  was  to  be  seen  outside,  but  when  Jack  whis- 
tled Mr.  Mole  came  out. 

"Don't  think,  Harkaway,  that  I  am  neglectful  of  my 
duty,"  said  he  ;  "I  was  on  the  alert." 

"  The  guard  should  be  outside,  sir  I "  exclaimed  Jack  ; 
"there  are  Pisangs  about." 

"Have  you  seen  any?" 

"Yes,  we  caught  one;  but  what  were  you  doing  in 
the  cave 3 "  asked  Jack. 

"  Yc-a'll  laugh  at  me,"  replied  Mr.  Mole  ;  "  but  I  fancy 
there  is  a  Pisang  concealed  there. " 

"Nonsense,  sir;  what  makes  you  think  that?  " 

"  You  know  that  Harvey  slung  up  some  boards  to  the 
top  of  the  cave,  to  make  a  sort  of  shelf  to  put  things  on  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"Well,"  continued  Mr.  Mole,  "I  was  sitting  down 
under  that  shelf,  when  I  heard  a  curious  noise  and  rust- 
ling overhead,  as  if  some  heavy  animal  was  moving 
about" 

"I  won't  say  that  a  Pisang  wouldn't  be  up  to  any  low 
dodge,"  said  Jack ;  "at  all  events  we'll  go  and  see  what 
it  is." 

Monday  and  Jack  entered  the  cave,  which  was  only 
imperfectly  lighted. 

Having  come  out  of  the  garish  and  blinding  sunshine, 
it  was  some  time  before  they  could  accustom  their  eyes 
to  the  semi-darkness  of  the  cavern. 

At  length,  looking  up,  Jack  clearly  saw  a  large  mass  of 
something  overhead. 

Gazing  more  carefully,  he  could  distinguish  yellow  and 
black  marks,  like  tortoise-shell. 

"Oh,  sare,"  cried  Monday,  "what  urn  lark!  It  um 
big  snake.  Oh,  my  !  such  a  whopper,  sare  !  " 

"You  are  right,  Mon.  It  is  a  snake,  and  as  well  as  I 
make  out,  far  and  away  the  biggest  I  ever  saw,"  said  Jack. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  ic 

As  he  continued  to  gaze,  the  indistinct  mass  resolv  ed 
itself  into  a  huge  serpent  compactly  coiled  up  into  a  kind 
of  knot. 

He  could  detect  his  head  and  his  bright  eyes  in  the 
very  centre  of  its  folds. 

The  sound  which  had  alarmed  and  puzzled  Mr.  Mole 
was  now  explained. 

During  the  night  the  snake  must  have  crawled  into  the 
cave,  and  taken  up  a  comfortable  position  on  Harvey's 
shelf. 

Perhaps  the  cave  was  its  regular  dwelling  place,  and 
it  had  no  idea  of  being  turned  out  by  the  new-comers. 

"What  is  to  be  done?  "  asked  Jack. 

He  had  tackled  the  python  on  board  the  vessel  he 
came  out  in,  but  he  did  not  care  about  another  encounter 
of  the  same  kind. 

His  voice  aroused  Harvey  and  Ben  Blunt,  who  were 
equally  alarmed. 

Mr.  Mole  actually  shook  in  his  shoes. 

"I  can't  stand  them  pesky  varmint,"  said  Ben  Blunt. 
"Never  could  abide  the  critters." 

"And  I  was  just  under  him,"  cried  Mr.  Mole  with  a 
shudder.  "  It's  a  mercy  he  let  me  alone." 

"  Monday  have  um  out !  " 

"  You  ! "  exclaimed  Jack. 

' '  Yes ;  me  kill  much  big  snake  in  our  country.  All 
you  go  out  of  the  cave,  and  stand  ready  with  guns  and 
axes.  Monday  show  how  to  do  the  trick." 

Monday's  instructions  were  obeyed,  and  he  went  to 
work  immediately  in  a  business-like  manner. 

He  made  a  strong  noose  of  rope,  and  taking  up  a  long 
pole  in  his  disengaged  hand,  began  to  poke  at  the  snake. 

The  reptile  began  to  slowly  unfold  itself. 

By  a  clever  throw  he  got  the  noose  over  the  reptile's 
head,  and  tightened  it  about  its  body. 

Then  he  began  to  drag  it  down. 

The  serpent  resisted  with  all  its  might,  coiling  around 
anything  it  could  lay  hold  of. 

Strong  though  Monday  was,  the  snake  gave  him  plenty 
of  work  to  do. 

First  he  got  the  advantage,  then  the  serpent  won  a 
yard  or  two. 

It  was  "pull  devil,  pull  baker." 


62  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  'S  AD  VENTURES 

The  boys  laughed  at  the  singular  contest  till  the  tears 
ran  down  their  cheeks. 

Monday  jabbered  away  at  the  snake,  and  perspired  at 
every  pore. 

"You  black  thief,"  cried  Monday,  "come  out  dat,  or 
I'll  give  you  something.  Oh,  you  beast ;  go  in  'gain, 
will  you  ?  Come  out  that,  I  say,  won't  you  ?  Then 
Monday  have  your  head,  you  old  villain. " 

"This  is  extremely  comical,"  observed  Mr.  Mole,  who 
being  at  a  safe  distance,  had  recovered  his  presence  of 
mind. 

"  Haul  on  the  rope,  lad.  Never  let  him  cast  anchor !  " 
cried  Ben  Blunt,  who  enjoyed  the  scene  as  much  as  any 
one. 

"Go  it,  Monday!  I'll  bet  on  Monday.  Who'll  take 
the  odds  ? "  exclaimed  Jack. 

"  Done  with  you  for  a  tenner,"  replied  Harvey.  "Just 
for  the  fun  of  the  thing  I'll  lay  the  snake  gets  off  through 
some  hole  or  other." 

"And  I'll  bet  he  don't,"  answered  Jack. 

They  watched  the  varying  contest  with  increasing  in- 
terest, and  it  was  clear  from  the  loudness  of  Monday's 
tone  that  he  was  losing  his  temper. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

HUNSTON'S  NEW  FRIENDS. 

THE  snake  was  certainly  a  formidable  antagonist. 

It  was  fully  twelve  feet  long  and  very  thick. 

Such  reptiles  were  common  in  these  islands,  and  had 
been  known  to  do  much  mischief,  as  they  frequently 
swallowed  a  little  child. 

Suddenly  Monday  dropped  the  rope,  and  quick  as 
lightning  he  caught  hold  of  the  creature's  tail. 

He  ran  out  of  the  cave  so  quickly,  still  holding  on, 
that  the  reptile  seemed  quite  confounded,  and  did  not 
know  what  to  do. 

" Look  out,  sare,"  cried  Monday.  "Now  him  come. 
Mist'  Mole,  mind  um  eye." 

Directly  he  had  dragged  the  snake  out  of  the  cave, 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  63 

Monday  swung  it  round  with  all  his  strength,  intending 
to  knock  its  head  against  a  tree. 

Mr.  Mole,  however,  was  in  the  way. 

The  snake  hit  him  on  the  head,  and  he  fell  down 
sprawling  on  the  ground  and  howling  dismally. 

Monday  was  obliged  to  let  go,  and  the  reptile  crept 
under  the  boat  which  had  been  drawn  up  near  the  cave. 

It  was  difficult  to  say  which  was  the  most  frightened, 
Mr.  Mole  or  the  snake. 

"Poke  um  out,  sare.  Now  we  got  him,"  cried  Mon- 
day, who  was  fairly  excited  by  this  time. 

Jack  took  up  the  pole  which  Monday  had  dropped  and 
began  to  poke  under  the  boat. 

"There  it  goes  !  Tally  ho  !  Stole  away  !  "  exclaimed 
Harvey,  who  saw  the  reptile  gliding  out  at  the  other 
side. 

Monday  was  after  it  like  a  shot 

He  cleverly  grasped  its  tail  again,  and  with  a  quick 
jerk  swung  it  round. 

This  time  its  head  struck  against  a  tree,  and  it  fell  con- 
fused and  hurt  to  the  ground. 

Ben  Blunt  and  Jack  now  fell  upon  it  with  hatchets,  and 
it  was  quickly  dispatched. 

"That's  the  way  we  kill  um  snake,  sare, "  said  Mon- 
day, standing  in  triumph  over  the  quivering  body. 

"Bravo!  You  can  doit,"  exclaimed  Jack;  adding, 
"Where's  Mr.  Mole?" 

This  gentleman  had  crept  under  a  bush,  and  his  voice 
was  heard  faintly  exclaiming — 

"  Is  it  dead  ?     Have  you  killed  the  brute  ?  " 

"  Dead  as  a  door-nail,  sir,"  replied  Jack. 

Mr.  Mole  came  out  into  the  open  air. 

"I  hope  you  did  not  think  I  was  afraid,"  said  he. 
"That  would  be  a  misconception  I  should  be  very  sorry 
for  you  to  put  on  my  conduct. " 

"If  you  didn't  hoist  the  white  flag  in  token  of  sur- 
render," observed  Ben  Blunt,  "why,  I  never  saw  any- 
thing so  much  like  it." 

"Man,"  replied  Mr.  Mole,  "it  is  unbecoming  for  a 
common  seaman  like  you,  to  pass  judgment  upon  me." 

"On  the  likes  of  you,"  said  Ben,  with  a  hearty  laugh. 
"  We're  all  equal  in  the  forecastle,  mate.  So  tip  us  your 
flapper.  There  are  no  bones  broke. " 


64  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"I  distinctly  refuse  to  place  myself  on  a  footing  of 
Familiarity  with  you,"  answered  Mr.  Mole. 

"  Jack's  as  good  as  his  master,"  remarked  Ben.  "  But 
I  don't  want  to  run  my  ship  where  she's  not  required." 

"Ben  didn't  mean  any  offence,"  said  Jack.  "It's  only 
his  way,  sir." 

"Then  it's  a  very  nasty,  disagreeable  habit,  Hark- 
away,"  answered  Mr.  Mole.  "  I  stopped  the  snake  very 
cleverly.  If  it  had  not  been  for  me,  he  might  have 
crushed  that  poor  black  fellow  to  death.  I  don't  like  Mr. 
Blunt's  jeers.  I  will  not  be  mocked  by  him." 

"  Avast  there,  sir,"  said  Ben.  "  I'll  say  you  killed  the 
varmint,  if  that  will  please  you." 

"It  will  not  please  me,  because  it  would  be  untrue," 
Mr.  Mole  replied.  "  But  I  assert,  and  will  maintain  that 
without  me  the  reptile  would  not  have  come  to  so  sudden 
an  end." 

No  one  contradicting  this  assertion,  Mr.  Mole  looked 
grandly  around  him,  and  went  to  examine  the  dead 
monster. 

During  the  day  Jack  had  the  snake  buried,  as  its  re- 
maining in  the  sun  would  have  created  an  unpleasant 
smell  so  near  the  cave. 

Then  he  took  Harvey  on  one  side,  and  told  him  what 
he  had  heard  respecting  Emily. 

" She's  gone,  Dick,  and  what  am  I  to  do? "  said  Jack. 

"I  don't  believe  in  this  golden  city,"  replied  Harvey. 
"It  is  most  likely  a  rich  and  luxurious  place  where  the 
pirates  live." 

"So  I  think.  It  is  a  comfort  to  know  that  Emily  is 
removed  from  Hunston,  if  only  for  a  short  time." 

"Of  course  he  means  to  join  her  as  soon  as  possible, 
and  imagines  you  will  never  find  her." 

"He's  mistaken  if  he  does,"  answered  Jack,  with  his 
old  look  of  determination.  "I'll  never  rest  till  I  have 
found  her. " 

"  It  wouldn't  be  a  bad  dodge  to  capture  Hunston  and 
make  him  take  us  to  her,"  said  Harvey. 

"If  we  could  ;  but  there  is  no  telling  where  he  is  hid- 
ing. He's  got  a  cave  like  ours,  I  expect ;  look  how  I've 
hunted  for  him." 

"  Let's  have  another  try,  shall  we?  Have  you  been 
round  the  coast  ? " 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  65 

"No;  inland  chiefly." 

"It's  cool,  now.  Come  fora  stroll  about  the  beach," 
continued  Harvey.  "I  should  think  Hunston  is  more 
likely  to  be  near  the  sea,  so  as  to  have  access  to  his  boats 
and  be  able  to  cut  it,  if  hard  pressed." 

"You're  right,  by  gum,"  said  Jack.  "I  feel  there  is 
sense  in  what  you  say.  Come  on." 

They  took  up  their  arms,  saw  that  the  caps  were  all 
right,  and  started  on  their  journey. 

After  travelling  about  three  or  four  miles,  they  saw  a 
handsome  ship  not  very  far  from  land. 

She  lowered  a  boat,  and  a  party  of  men  got  into  her 
and  pulled  for  the  shore. 

"I  say,  Dick,  I'll  bet  a  new  hat  that's  the  'Sea- 
horse,' "  exclaimed  Jack. 

"Ben  Blunt's  ship ?  " 

' '  Yes  ;  the  one  the  mutineers  have  taken  possession 
of,  after  murdering  their  officers." 

"I  shouldn't  wonder,"  said  Harvey.  "But  what  a 
precious  set  of  rascals  they  must  be." 

"  This  Sam  Parsons,  from  all  accounts,  is  a  beauty. 
If  all  Ben  says  of  him  is  true,  he's  a  caution.  What  shall 
we  do  ? " 

"Perhaps,"  replied  Jack,  "they're  coming  on  shore  for 
water,  or  to  have  a  spree.  They  don't  expect  to  find 
white  men  here.  Let's  get  as  close  to  where  they  are 
likely  to  land,  as  we  can  without  being  seen,  and  fog 
them. " 

' '  All  right.  Creep  along  behind  these  bushes,  they  will 
hide  us,"  said  Harvey. 

The  boys  made  their  way  cautiously  along,  and  when- 
ever they  looked  up  they  could  see  that  the  boat  was 
coming  nearer. 

At  last  they  could  hear  the  measured  sound  of  the  oars 
in  the  rowlocks. 

"  Let's  pitch  here, "said  Jack,  deeming  it  prudent  to  call 
a  halt. 

He  pointed  as  he  spoke  to  a  clump  of  trees  that  afforded 
excellent  shelter,  at  the  same  time  giving  them  a  capital 
view  of  the  sandy  shore. 

There  were  fifteen  men  in  the  boat. 

Two  remained  in  her  when  she  was  beached,  and  the 
others  landed. 


66  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  'S  AD  VENTURES 

Some  carried  small  casks,  so  that  it  was  evident  that 
they  were  in  search  of  water  as  Jack  had  surmised. 

These  started  in  various  directions,  and  half-a-dozen 
stayed  under  a  clump  of  trees,  throwing  themselves  down 
and  beginning  to  smoke  and  drink. 

Suddenly  a  form  emerged  from  behind  a  rock,  and 
advanced  to  the  men. 

All  sprang  to  their  feet  and  grasped  their  arms. 

"Look,  Dick,  that's  Hunston,"  whispered  Jack. 

"  So  it  is.     What's  his  game  ? " 

"  Stand  close.     We  shall  see  directly, "replied  Jack. 

Hunston,  for  it  was  he,  stopped,  and  the  leader  of  the 
sailors  exclaimed — 

"  Who  goes  there  ? " 

"A  friend,"  replied  Hunston. 

" Are  you  alone?  " 

"Yes,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  friendly  natives. 
Who  are  you  ?  " 

"  My  name  is  Sam  Parsons,"  was  the  answer;  "and 
I'm  the  captain  of  that  ship  you  see  riding  in  the  offing. 
Now,  who  and  what  are  you  ?  " 

"1  was  wrecked  on  one  of  these  islands  with  some 
companions,  but  we've  had  a  split, "  replied  Hunston. 

"  Where  are  the  others  ?  "  asked  Parsons. 

"On  this  island,  too.  We've  had  a  fight,  and  they've 
beaten  us." 

' '  Are  they  armed  ?  " 

"They  are,"  answered  Hunston;  "but  if  you'd  join 
me,  we'd  soon  settle  their  hash. " 

"You  seem  a  free  and  easy  sort  of  chap,'  said  Sam 
Parsons  ;  "and  if  you  like  to  turn  pirate,  you're  welcome 
to  a  berth  with  us. " 

"Pirate? "  repeated  Hunston. 

"  Yes.  Is  there  anything  wonderful  in  that  ? "  answered 
the  mutineer.  "We  didn't  like  our  officers,  so  we " 

"  He  drew  his  hand  significantly  across  his  throat. 

"  Gave  them  a  free  passage  to  the  other  world,  eh  ?  " 
said  Hunston,  with  a  grim  smile.  "That's  just  my  style, 
and  if  you'll  have  me,  I'll  cut  and  hang  with  the  best  of 
you. " 

"Well  said,  my  hearty!"  exclaimed  Sam  Parsons. 
"You're  made  of  the  right  stuff,  and  a  man  of bette* 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  67 

kidney  never  sailed  under  the  black  flag,  I  can  see.  Come 
and  join  us  in  a  glass  of  grog." 

"That  I'll  do  with  pleasure,  for  I've  tasted  nothing 
strong  than  water  this  many  a  long  day,"  said  Hunston. 

The  men  dropped  their  arms,  and  they  were  soon 
pledging  each  other. 

They  seemed  to  consider  Hunston  an  acquisition,  ai.d 
crowded  round  him  to  hear  the  story  which  he  recounted. 

"So  you  want  to  have  a  slap  at  your  old  friends?" 
said  Sam  Parsons. 

"  That's  my  pious  intention.  I  wasn't  strong  enough 
without  you,  but  with  you  we  can  easily  do  it." 

"Where  are  they?" 

"About  four  or  five  miles  up  along  the  coast.  They've 
got  a  cave,  and  are  well  armed ;  still  we  might  surprise 
them  at  night" 

"How  many  are  there  of  them?"  continued  the 
mutineer. 

"Two  youngsters,  a  middle-aged  man,  a  native,  and  a 
sailor-looking  sort  of  cove  who  has  only  just  joined 
them,"  replied  Hunston. 

"  How  do  you  know  this  ?  " 

"  Because  I  watched  them  this  morning,  one  of  my 
natives  having  met  them.  He  pretended  to  run  away 
from  them,  but  turned  back  and  tracked  them  to  their 
lair.  He  took  me  close  to  them  afterwards,  so  I  know 
it's  all  right." 

"  What's  this  sailor  like?" 

"He's  a  bluff  sort  of  fellow,  and  they  call  him  Ben 
Blunt,"  answered  Hunston. 

"  Hang  me  if  I  didn't  think  so.  It's  Ben  Blunt  the 
bo'sun  !  "  cried  Sam  Parsons. 

' '  And  who  may  he  be  ?  " 

"Why,  he  was  in  our  ship's  company,  and  being  the 
only  officer  we  liked,  we  spared  his  life  and  put  him 
ashore  here.  So  he's  joined  the  enemy  1 " 

"Yes,  that's  the  lot." 

"Oh,  by  the  Lord  Harry,"  continued  the  mutineer, 
"we  must  have  a  slap  at  Ben.  He  may  get  off  the 
island  with  his  new  mates,  and  he  knows  enough  to 
send  a  man-of-war  after  us,  and  get  the  lot  of  us  strung 
up." 

A  savage  smile  lighted  up  Hunston's  countenance. 


68  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  ADVENTURES 

"You're  with  me,  then?"  he  said.  "Let  us  attack 
them  in  the  grey  dawn  of  to-morrow  morning. " 

"  Right  you  are,  my  hearty  !     What  do  you  say,  lads  ?  * 

"Aye,  aye,"  responded  the  mutineers,  in  answer  to 
Sam  Parsons's  appeal. 

Harvey  grasped  Jack's  hand. 

"It's  lucky  we  came  out,"  he  said,  in  a  low  tone. 

"Yes,"  replied  Jack.  "  Now  we're  warned  we  shall  be 
a  match  for  them,  though  if  they'd  surprised  us  and  killed 
our  sentry,  we  should  have  been  shot  like  parrots  as  we 
came  out  of  the  cave." 

"Shall  we  go  back  now,  and  fortify  ourselves? " 

"  I  think  so.  Those  fellows  who  are  out  for  water 
may  see  us  if  we  stop, "  replied  Jack. 

With  the  same  caution  they  had  exercised  in  advanc- 
ing, they  beat  a  retreat. 

They  were  disgusted  with  Hunston's  constant  enmity, 
and  feared  they  would  have  no  peace  while  he  lived. 

Mr.  Mole  and  Monday  had  been  preparing  dinner,  and 
having  been  successful  in  killing  a  hog  that  had  escaped 
from  its  pen  when  Palembang  was  burnt,  a  very  savoury 
smell  of  roast  pork  greeted  them  as  they  approached. 

"Come  along,  Harkaway,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole. 
"  We've  got  a  spread  fit  for  a  king." 

"All  right,  sir;  pitch  in,"  replied  Jack.  "I've  got 
some  startling  news  for  you,  but  it  shan't  take  away 
my  appetite." 

"  Anything  new  ?  "  asked  Ben  Blunt. 

"The  'Sea-horse'  is  anchored  off  the  shore,  a  few 
miles  away,  and  our  old  enemy,  Hunston,  has  met  with 
and  joined  the  mutineers." 

' '  Is  Sam  Parsons  ashore  ? " 

"That  he  is,"  replied  Jack.  "He  and  his  confeder- 
ates have  hoisted  the  black  flag,  and  they  mean  to  attack 
us  to-morrow  morning." 

"The  deuce  they  do  !  "  said  Mr.  Mole,  who  was  in  the 
act  of  conveying  a  savoury  piece  of  pork  to  his  mouth. 

"The  villains  1 "  replied  Ben  Blunt.  "It's all  that  Sam 
Parsons,  though  I  could  manage  the  rest  of  the  crew,  if 
it  wasn't  for  him." 

"It's  you  they  want,  Ben,"  continued  Jack.  "They 
are  afraid  of  you  since  Hunston  has  told  them  you  are 
with  us.  They  say  you  can  hang  them." 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  69 

"  That's  true  enough ;  but  hanging  at  the  yard-arm 
is  too  good  for  Sam  Parsons." 

"Never  mind;  we  won't  give  you  up,  Ben;  we'll 
fight  for  you." 

"I'll  tell  you  what  I'll  do,"  said  Ben  Blunt;  "I'll 
challenge  Sam  to  fight  me  in  single  combat  with  cutlasses, 
and  let  the  best  man  win.  That'll  save  bloodshed." 

"  Bravo  !  "  cried  Jack.      "  I  like  a  fair  stand-up  fight" 

"Will  he  consent?"  asked  Mr.  Mole. 

"Oh,  Sam's  plucky  enough.     He'll  fight." 

"And  you  mean  to  propose  that  if  you  beat  him  they 
shall  let  us  alone,  and  we  won't  interfere  with  him," 
said  Jack. 

"That's  just  the  idea,"  answered  Ben. 

"  I've  got  an  amendment  to  propose,"  said  Harvey. 

"What's  that?  "asked  Jack. 

"Only  this  : — When  the  fight  is  over,  whichever  way  it 
goes,  get  up  a  big  drink  ;  you  and  I  will  steal  away,  get 
into  a  boat  and  board  the  ship. " 

"They'll  have  men  on  guard,"  said  Ben. 

"Of  course  they  will,  but  you  forget  that  where  there 
are  no  officers,  there  is  no  discipline.  The  men  will  be 
drunk  or  asleep.  I  know  what  sailors  are  well  enough." 

"  Let  me  go  with  you,  Harvey.  I  should  like  to  share 
in  that  glorious  enterprise,"  said  Mr.  Mole. 

"More  by  token,  the  gentleman  would  not  like  to  be 
left  with  Sam  Parsons  and  his  mutineers,"  replied  Ben, 
with  a  grin. 

"Silence,  my  good  fellow, "  answered  Mr.  Mole.  ' '  My 
bravery  has  been  tried  often  and  often,  in  the  hour  of 
danger.  We  have  got  to  see  what  you  can  do." 

"  Let  us  all  go,"  said  Jack. 

"Better  still,"  Mr.  Mole  continued.  "If  our  friend 
Ben  here  is  victorious,  he  will  be  of  service,  and  when 
we  have  made  friends  with  the  mutineers,  and  they  are 
all  intoxicated,  we  will  sail  for  the  vessel." 

"  Monday  know  a  plant  which  make  um  all  sleep  till 
this  time  next  week,"  exclaimed  the  black. 

"  Do  you  propose  to  drug  them  ?  " 

"  That  it,  Mist'  Mole.  Put  something  in  one  big  stone 
bottle,  that  for  them ;  put  nothing  but  rum  in  another, 
that  for  us. " 

"  Excellent !     The  thanks  of  the  meeting  are,   I  think. 


yo  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  'S  AD  VENTURES 

due  to  Harvey  and  Monday  for  two  excellent  ideas.  Eat 
up  your  pig,  Monday,  and  go  in  search  of  the  drug,"  said 
Mr.  Mole. 

"If  it  all  comes  off,  it  will  be  ripping,"  exclaimed 
Jack. 

"We'll  do  our  little  worst,  any  how,  "re  marked  Harvey. 

After  dinner  the  cave  was  strengthened  by  the  erection 
of  some  mounds  of  earth  which  protected  the  entrance. 

Each  defender  could  crouch  behind  one  of  those  little 
hills,  and  fire  at  the  enemy  without  being  exposed  him- 
self. 

Monday  procured  the  herb  he  wanted,  and  put  large 
quantities  of  it  into  a  big  bottle  of  rum. 

The  guns  were  all  loaded. 

Each  member  of  the  little  board  took  up  a  position 
assigned  him  by  Jack. 

The  oars  were  put  in  the  boat,  which  was  moored  near 
the  shore  so  as  to  be  ready  at  a  moment's  notice. 

Anxiously  the  moments  glided  by. 

Each  heart  beat  quickly,  for  the  coming  day  was  preg- 
nant with  events  of  importance. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

SENDING  THE  CHALLENGE. 

THE  excitement  attendant  upon  the  expected  attack  of 
the  mutineers  prevented  any  of  the  party  from  sleeping. 

They  sat  outside  the  cave  with  their  arms  ready  to 
their  hands,  and  Monday  walked  up  and  down  with  a 
loaded  rifle. 

Mr.  Mole  had  a  bottle  of  rum,  and  dispensed  the  grog 
with  a  liberality  which  won  the  heart  of  Ben  Blunt. 

"You're  a  gentleman,  every  inch  of  you,  sir,"  he  ex- 
claimed ;  "I  can  see  by  the  way  you  handle  the  liquor." 

"No  personal  allusions,  if  you  please,  my  worthy 
friend,"  replied  Mr.  Mole. 

"I  can't  help  it,  cap'n.  What  I've  got  in  my  mind 
must  come  out.  Now,  if  it  isn't  a  rude  question,  what 
do  you  think  it  cost  you  to  colour  your  nose  ?  It  must 
have  been  a  tidy  sum,  but  you  can  make  a  rough  guess." 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  7  I 

It  was  a  fact  that  Mr.  Mole's  nose  had  assumed  a  rosy 
hue  of  late,  and  shone  like  a  fiery  beacon  on  a  dark 
night. 

"Nonsense,  my  good  fellow!"  he  exclaimed.  "It's 
the  hot  sun  of  these  infernal  regions.  You're  mistaken 
when  you  ascribe  the  effect  to  intemperance.  It's  noth- 
ing of  the  sort.  Pass  the  bottle." 

"Right,  sir.     B'ilers  require  water;  quite  nat'ral." 

"  Now,  then,"  said  Jack,   "  don't  you  two  get  sparring." 

Mr.  Mole  had  sprung  up,  as  if  he  intended  to  correct 
Ben  Blunt  by  striking  him. 

But  Jack  pushed  him  back  again. 

Putting  one  hand  on  his  head  and  the  other  on 
Ben's  he  said,  in  an  unctuous  voice  like  that  of  a  clergy- 
man— 

' '  Bless  you  !  ber-less  you,  my  children !  Kiss  and  be 
friends." 

"Remove  your  hand  from  my  head  instantly,  Hark- 
away!"  cried  Mr.  Mole.  "It's  a  liberty  I  allow  no 
man  to  take  !  " 

"Kiss  and  be  friends,  then,"  said  Jack;  "we  can't 
have  you  fighting.  Wait  for  the  mutineers." 

"You're  becoming  very  impertinent,"  continued  Mr. 
Mole.  "Both  you  and  Harvey  seem  to  have  lost  the 
respect  you  ought  to  entertain  for  me.  Don't  take  any 
more  liberties  with  me,  Harkaway,  or  you'll  hear  more 
of  it." 

"Hullo!"  cried  Tack  "What's  the  matter?  You're 
out  of  order,  sir.  Whose  pills  do  you  take  ?  " 

"Never  mind;  I  will  keep  my  place  as  leader  of  this 
party  and  protector  of  you  poor  defenceless  boys  :  you 
keep  yours.  It  is  my  province  to  command,  yours  to 
obey. " 

Jack  smiled  and  winked  at  Harvey. 

"If  so  be  as  the  gentleman  wants  a  turn  up  on  the 
grass,  man  to  man,  a  fair  field  and  no  favour,  I'm  ready 
for  him,"  remarked  Ben  Blunt. 

"  I  do  not  fight,"  replied  Mr.  Mole.  "Such  low  and 
blackguard  practices  may  suit  Whitechapel  roughs." 

"  Hang  me  if  I  know  how  to  take  him.  I'm  game.  I 
was  never  sick  or  sorry  an  hour  in  my  life,  and  if  he 
means  fitting,  why,  I'll  fit,"  said  Ben. 

"Don't   you  make  any   mistake,    Ben,"  replied  Jack 


72  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"Mr.  Mole  is  as  game  as  a  pebble,  and  would  come  up 
fresh  as  a  daisy  after  the  fiftieth  round.  Don't  you  provoke 
him." 

"  What's  he  keep  snacking  at  me  for  ?  " 

"It  is  not  for  a  boatswain,  or  whatever  you  call  your- 
self, to  insult  a  man  of  education  like  myself,  understand 
that,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole,  proudly. 

"The  likes  of  you  !     And  what  be  I  ?  " 

"  An  indifferent  cross,  I  should  say  between  an  idiot 
and  a  sea-cow,"  replied  Mr.  Mole,  who  was  rapidly  drink- 
ing more  than  he  ought  to. 

Jack  and  Harvey  roared  with  laughter  at  this  sally. 

Mr.  Mole  smiled  blandly  at  this  token  of  their  appro val. 

"That's  good.  I  flatter  myself  that's  good,  eh  Hark- 
away,"  he  said. 

"  Stunning,  sir.     You've  spotted  him  to  a  T." 

"  He  asked  my  candid  opinion,  and  I  gave  it  him." 

"  Well,  I'm  bio  wed,  gents,"  exclaimed  Ben  Blunt, 
getting  as  red  as  a  turkey  cock.  "He's  a-giving  it  me  a 
rum  'un  all  round  the  hoop  and  no  kid.  Cross  atween 
a  hidiot  and  a  sea-cow.  Blow  me  tight !  That  s  a  nice 
thing  to  say  about  a  respectable  cove,  whose  father  fought 
with  Nelson  in  the  'Victory/  and  whose  mother  took  in 
officers'  washing  at  Portsmouth.  I'll  spoil  his  figurehead  !  " 

"Harvey,  hold  that  misguided  man  while  I  hit  him  on 
the  head  with  a  stick,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole,  adding,  in  a 
whisper,  "  Harkaway,  what  shall  I  do?  " 

"Cheek  it  out,  sir." 

"Mutinous  dog,  forbear  !  "  continued  Mr.  Mole.  "  You 
were  the  companion  of  mutineers.  I  will  put  you  in 
chains,  and  convey  you  to  your  native  land,  there  to 
await  the  judgment  of  your  outraged  countrymen." 

Harvey  had  great  difficulty  in  restraining  Ben,  who 
was  speechless  with  rage  and  indignation. 

"  I  think  I've  settled  him,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  with  a  hiccup. 
"What  was  it  that  broke  the  thingamy's  back,  Hark- 
away  ?  " 

' '  Straw,  sir.     Last  straw  broke  the  camel's  back. " 

"Precisely.  Turn  to  your  natural  history,  and  you 
find  that  the  camel  is  a  native  of  Bactria." 

Mr.  Mole  took  Ben's  quiet  attitude  for  cowardice. 

His  courage  rose  accordingly. 

"You  need    not  hold  the  poor  wretch  any  longer, 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  73 

Harvey.  Let  him  go,"  he  said.  "  I  think  I  have  snuffed 
him  out." 

"He's  in  a  mortal  funk,  sir.  I  don't  know  what  it  is, 
but  there's  something  about  you  which  knocks  them  all 
over,"  replied  Harvey. 

"It's  my  bearing,  Harvey,  my  majestic  bearing." 

Suddenly  Ben  found  his  tongue,  and  sprang  to  his  feet. 

"I'll  give  him  something!"  he  gasped,  "when  I've 
finished  with  him,  he  shall  have  a  cock  eye  and  a  game 
leg.  There  won't  be  much  what  d'ye  call — bearing  about 
that.  Sink  me,  if  there  will." 

"My  word,  sir,"  whispered  Jack;  "his  monkey's  up. 
You'd  better  cut  and  run." 

"Run,  Harkaway  !  I'd  scorn  to.  But  do  you  really 
think  he  means  it  ?  I  thought  I'd  cowed  him.' 

"Cut  into  the  cave,  sir.     I'll  square  it  in  tw»  minutes." 

Ben  Blunt  was  coming  on  at  full  speed,  like  an  iron- 
clad ram  with  the  steam  full  on. 

Mr.  Mole  made  a  clean  bolt  into  the  cave,  and  began  to 
barricade  the  entrance  with  some  wood  and  bits  of  rock. 

Jack  stopped  Ben  Blunt,  and  exclaimed — 

"Steady,  Ben  ;  steady  !  " 

"Steady  she  is,  sir,"  replied  Ben,  who  was  too  good  a 
sailor  not  to  pull  up  when  spoken  to  by  one  whom  he 
considered  his  superior  officer. 

"Drop  anchor,  Ben." 

"Lower  away,  my  lads,"  replied  Ben;  adding,  as  he 
sat  down — 

"She's  swung  round  to  her  moorings,  sir." 

"Right,  Ben.  Now  listen  to  me.  We  make  allowance 
for  Mr.  Mole.  He  is  our  senior,  and  we  take  no  notice 
of  what  he  says.  He's  privileged,  Ben." 

"That's  all  well  enough,  sir,"  cried  Ben.  "I'm  no 
scholard,  but  it's  hard  to  be  called  sea-cows  an  cussed 
hidiots,  ain't  it  now?" 

"All  chaff,  Ben.  Nothing  but  empty  chaff.  I'll  take 
my  oath  he  didn't  mean  it.  He's  a  good  sort  when  you 
know  him." 

"Then  may  I  be  wrecked  on  a  lee  shore  if  I  want  to 
know  him." 

"Step  aft,  Ben,  and  say  there's  no  bad  blood  between 
you.  He's  the  bung  on  board  this  ship,  and  will  stop 
your  grog  if  you  ain't  civil " 


74  JJCJt-  HARK  A  WAY'S  AD  VENTURES 

"Will  he  'pologise  for  the  sea-cow,  sir,  think  ye?* 
asked  Ben,  scratching  his  head  dubiously. 

"  Avast  there,  Ben.  He's  your  superior  officer.  Never 
strike  your  flag,  Ben,  but  always  doff  your  hat  to  the 
ward-room." 

"You're  right,  sir.  Tell  him  to  come  out.  I  won't 
hurt  him,"  answered  Ben  Blunt,  who  was  a  good-natured 
fellow,  and  easily  pacified. 

Jack  went  to  the  cave  and  said — 

"  It's  supper  time,  sir  ;  come  and  join  us." 

"  Is — is  that  wild  sailor-fellow  inclined  to  make  peace, 
Harkaway  ? "  asked  Mr.  Mole,  looking  cautiously  through 
a  hole  in  his  barricade. 

"  He's  like  a  lamb,  sir." 

"Is  he?  Then  I'll  venture  out.  I  don't  like  mutineers 
as  a  rule.  Not  that  I  am  afraid  of  any  man  living,  but 
directly  I  recollected  he  was  a  mutineer,  I  thought  it  best 
to  get  out  of  the  dog's  way,"  answered  Mr.  Mole. 

"Now,  then,  Dick,"  cried  Jack,  "wake  up  1  See  what 
there  is  in  the  larder,  and  put  on  the  feed." 

"There's  cold  venison  and  some  bird  stuff  or  other — 
parrot,  I  think,"  answered  Harvey. 

"All  right;  put  it  on.  We'll  make  a  night  of  it,  and 
fight  the  enemy  all  the  better  when  they  come." 

Mr.  Mole  emerged  from  the  cave,  and  was  induced  to 
3hake  hands  with  Ben,  who  showed  no  further  ill-feeling. 

The  "feed,"  as  Jack  called  it,  was  put  "on,"  and  a 
very  pleasant  evening  passed. 

In  a  short  time  the  daylight  came  and  everybody  was 
very  valiant,  especially  Mr.  Mole  and  Ben  Blunt 

"Sam  Parsons  knows  me  well  enough,"  exclaimed 
Ben,  "and  I  don't  believe  that  he'll  show  up." 

"I've  got  an  idea,  Ben,"  said  Jack. 

"  Bully  for  you,  sir,"  replied  the  boatswain. 

"*  Suppose  you  send  Sam  Parsons  a  challenge." 

•'  I'm  game  to  do  that,  sir,  and  fight  him  as  long  as  I 
can  stand,  with  cutlashes  or  pistols,  or  both." 

"Very  well;  Monday  shall  take  the  challenge,  but  it 
must  be  written." 

"I'm  no  scholard,  sir,  as  I  said  before,"  answered  Ben  ; 
"but  if  so  be  that  your  honour  will  write  it  out,  I'll  put 
my  mark  to  it." 

"I've  got  a  pencil  and  a  bit  of  paper,"  said  Harvey. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  75 

"Fork  it  out,  then,"  replied  Jack 

Harvey  gave  him  the  pencil  and  paper,  and  Jack  spread 
the  latter  out  on  his  knee. 

"What  shall  I  say,  Ben  ?"  he  asked. 

Ben  scratched  his  head,  and  looked  up  at  the  reddening 
sky,  and  then  down  upon  the  ground. 

"  It'll  run  somehow  in  this  way, "  remarked  Ben.  "  'I, 
Ben  Blunt,  late  bo'sun  of  the  "Sea-horse,"  bound  from 
Shanghai  to  the  port  of  London.'  Got  that,  sir  !  " 

"  Yes  ;  '  port  of  London.'     Go  ahead." 

"'Challenge  Sam  Parsons,  also  of  the  "Sea-horse," 
and  mutineer,  to  single  combat.'  Got  that,  sir?" 

"All  right ;  ' single  combat.'     Cut  along." 

"  'And  the  said  Ben  Blunt  will  fight  with  cutlashes  or 
pistols,  and '  Got  pistols,  sir?  " 

"7  es  ;  'pistols.'  " 

"• '  And  him  as  is  whopped  will  have  to  bury  the  other, 
if  so  be  as  his  lights  is  put  out  for  ever.'" 

"  That's  lovely  !     I  like  the  last  bit,"  observed  Harvey. 

"We'll  avenge  you,  Ben,  if  you  fall,"  said  Jack. 

"  P'r'aps  Mr.  Mole  will  have  a  turn  at  him,  sir,  if  so  be 
as  I'm  beat,"  observed  Ben. 

"Do  you  think  I'd  condescend  to  fight  your  battle  you 
son  of  a  sea-cook  ?  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole,  angrily. 

"Gents,"  said  Ben,  "he's  at  me  again." 

"  Never  mind  him  ;  it's  his  way,"  answered  Jack.  "  It 
pleases  him  and  don't  hurt  you." 

"  Right,  sir,"  replied  Ben.  "I  only  clap  on  sail  when 
there's  a  capful  of  wind ;  it's  when  I  feel  a  tempest  com- 
ing that  I  take  in  canvas." 

"Vulgar  seaman  !  "  said  Mr.  Mole. 

"Well,  sir?  "  inquired  Ben. 

"  Peace,  common  fellow — peace  !  "continued  Mr.  Mole, 
waving  his  hand. 

"Beg  your  honour's  pardon,"  said  Ben,  speaking  to 
Jack  ;  "is  that  in  the  articles  of  war?  " 

"  Yes  ;  hold  your  noise." 

"  But  sea-cows,  and  sea-cooks,  and  vulgar  seamens, 
and  common  fellows !  Why,  hang  me,  if  I  was  a  por- 
poise I  couldn't  stand  it  much  longer." 

"Polish  off  Sam  Parsons  first,  and  then  you  shall  have 
a  go  at  Mole." 

"You  promise  me  that,  sir?" 


76  JA  CK  HARKA  WAY'S  AD  VENTURES. 

"Religiously." 

' '  Right.  I'm  dumb  as  an  oyster,  and  then  he'd  better 
batten  down  his  hatch,  or  I'll  walk  into  his  hold,"  said 
Ben. 

Jack  got  up  and  dispatched  Monday,  with  a  white  flag, 
to  seek  out  the  mutineers. 

"Give  them  this,"  he  said,  "and  bring  us  their 
answer. " 

"All  serene,  Mast'  Jack;  Monday  him  do  it,"  replied 
the  black. 

But  he  hadn't  gone  half-a-dozen  yards  before  he  ran 
back  in  a  great  state  of  agitation,  crying — 

"  Here  they  come,  sare — such  a  lot  of  'em  !  Oh,  my, 
Mast'  Jack  !  look  out,  sare  !  " 

Each  member  of  the  party  firmly  grasped  his  weapon 
and  stood  on  the  defensive. 

The  mutineers  of  the  "Sea-horse"  were  advancing  in 
force. 

It  was  a  critical  moment 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE   SINGLE   COMBAT. 

"HARVEY,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  "don't  get  behind  me. 
Show  yourself  a  man,  as  I  mean  to  do." 

Dick  was  only  kneeling  to  load  his  extra  rifle,  and  took 
no  notice  of  the  admonition. 

"You,  Harvey,  are  a  fine  specimen  of  the  vitulus  Brit- 
annicus,"  continued  Mr.  Mole. 

"Who's  he,  sir,  when  he's  at  home?"  answered  Har- 
vey, getting  up  when  he  had  finished  loading. 

"  The  British  calf.  Vitulus  Brit oh  1  get  out  of  my 

way,  Harvey.  I  will  make  for  the  cave.  A  bullet 
whistled  past  my  head,  and  I  thought  there  was  only  to 
be  a  single  combat." 

As  Mr.  Mole  spoke  a  couple  of  shots  hurled  past  and 
buried  themselves  in  the  walls  of  the  cave. 

The  mutineers  had  commenced  the  attack. 

"This  is  getting  hot,"  remarked  Harvey. 

"  Getting  hot,"  replied  Jack  ;   "it's  boiling  hot  already. 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  77 

Monday,  hoist  the  white  flag,  as  a  sign  we  want  to  parley 
with  them." 

Monday  did  so. 

The  white  flag  was  simply  a  bit  of  an  old  shirt  stuck  on 
the  end  of  a  bamboo. 

"  Hold  your  fire,  Sam  Parsons,"  cried  Jack.  "  Here's 
a  letter  I  want  to  show  you  from  an  old  messmate. 
Stay  where  you  are.  Don't  advance  another  step  or  we 
fire." 

Hunston  at  this  moment  came  to  the  front. 

"You  haven't  taken  us  by  surprise,  old  fellow, "con- 
tinued Jack. 

"  Let  them  have  it  I  "  cried  Hunston,  angrily. 

"  Hold  hard,  governor."  said  Sam  Parsons.  "  If  so  be 
as  my  old  shipmate,  Ben  Blunt " 

' '  That's  me, "  interposed  Ben. 

"  I  can  see  your  old  hull,"  continued  Sam.  "Well,  as 
I  was  a-saying,  if  so  be  as  Ben  wants  a  bit  of  palaver,  I 
ain't  a-going  to  forget  old  times,  and  shan't  say  nary 
word  against  it. " 

"That's  righteous,  that  is,  Sam,  and  though  we  ain't 
cousins,  blow  me  if  I  don't  sort  of  admire  your  style  1 " 
answered  Ben. 

"Shoot  them  all  down,  you  fool  j  you'll  lose  your 
chance  !  "  exclaimed  Hunston,  more  furious  than  ever. 

"Belay,  there!  It's  a  truce,  Ben,  isn't  it?"  said  Sara 
Parsons. 

"Truce  it  is,  Sam." 

"Look  here,  Hunston,"  exclaimed  Jack,  "I  know  you 
to  be  a  coward  and  a  villain,  and  so  I've  covered  you 
with  my  rifle.  If " 

"  You  wouldn't  break  the  truce  ?  "  said  Hunston,  hastily, 
fearing  Jack  meant  to  kill  him. 

"No,  I  shan't  do  that,  but  I  shall  keep  my  eye  on  the 
bead  and  my  finger  on  the  trigger,  and  if  you  so  much  as 
move  half  an  inch,  or  open  your  ugly  mouth  again,  I  take 
my  Dick  I'll  pot  you  !  " 

Hunston  turned  ghastly  pale. 

_  But  as  he  looked  at  Jack,  he  saw  that  he  had  his  rifle  to 
his  shoulder,  and  that  he  could  make  "dead  meat*' of 
him  in  no  time. 

So  he  was  obliged  to  be  quiet. 

"  Ben  I  "  exclaimed  the  mutineer. 


78  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

'  Here,  lad,"  answered  Ben. 

'  Where's  this  bit  o'  writin'  you  spoke  about?  * 

'  Monday  f  "  said  Jack. 

'Yes,  sare,"  replied  the  black. 

'Deliver  the  challenge." 

Monday  advanced  to  Sam  Parsons  with  the  piece  o£ 
paper  on  which  the  challenge  was  written,  and  Sam  took 
it  up,  reading  it  with  difficulty. 

Some  of  his  companions  crowded  round  him  and  helped 
to  make  out  its  contents. 

Turning  to  his  lieutenant,  Jimmy  Clark,  Sam  said — 

"What  shall  I  do,  Jim?" 

"Do  ?  "  repeated  Jimmy.  "Why,  fight  him  like  a  man. 
It's  a  fair  challenge,  and  if  he  beats,  we'll  shake  hands  all 
round  and  let  'em  alone." 

"Well,  if  I  beat?" 

"Why,  if  you  beats  we'll  shake  hands  all  round,  too, 
and  after  a  good  liquor-up,  we'll  up  anchor  and  part 
friends,"  said  Jimmy. 

"Is  that  business,  Jim?"  asked  Sam  Parsons. 

Jimmy  had  been  a  clerk  somewhere,  at  some  time  or 
the  other,  and  they  called  him  the  sea-lawyer. 

If  anything  difficult  had  to  be  decided,  they  always 
said — 

"Go  and  ask  Jimmy  Clark  :  he's  our  sea-lawyer,  and 
be  hanged  to  him  !  " 

Thus  it  happened  that  Jimmy  had  great  influence  over 
his  lawless  companions. 

A  little  learning  is  a  dangerous  thing,  and  Jimmy 
hadn't  much,  but  what  little  he  had  he  made  do  double 
duty. 

"  Of  course  it's  business,"  replied  Jimmy.  "  If  Antony 
had  sent  a  challenge  to  Caesar,  to  meet  him  in  the  Campus 
Martius,  wouldn't  Caesar  have  accepted  it  ? " 

"Then  we  must  fight?" 

"  You  and  Ben  must  fight,  that's  about  the  size  of  it, 
and  I'll  bet  a  demi-quid  on  you,  Sam." 

"Right  you  are  Jimmy,"  said  Sam  Parsons.  "I'm  a 
plucked  one." 

"You  have  the  choice  of  weapons,  being  the  chaU 
lenged  party,"  continued  Jimmy.  "What  will  you 
have  ?  " 

"Cutlashes  for  me,:'  exclaimed  Ben. 


AFL OAT  AND  ASHORE.  79 

"You  dry  up,  old  whale,"  exclaimed  Jimmy.  "It's 
for  my  man  to  choose.  What  do  you  want  to  spout 
for  ? "  ' 

"Well,"  said  Sam,  "cutlashes  be  it.  I  never  liked  to 
crab  a  pal,  and  if  Ben  Blunt  says  cutlashes,  I'm  on  with 
cutlashes." 

Two  of  the  mutineers  stepped  forward,  and  gave  each 
of  the  intending  combatants  a  cutlass. 

They  took  the  weapons  and  faced  one  another. 

Both  sides  made  a  circle  round  the  principals. 

Jack,  however,  did  not  lower  his  rifle,  and  never  took 
his  eye  off  Hunston. 

The  single  combat  was  about  to  begin. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE  RESULT  OF  THE  FIGHT. 

THE  two  old  salts  stood  opposite  one  another  and  flour~ 
ished  their  weapons,  which  glittered  in  the  sunshine. 

"  Tip  us  your  flapper,  Ben,"  said  Sam  Parsons. 

"  Done  with  you,  Sam,"  replied  Ben  Blunt ;  "  I've  no 
particular  ill-will  against  you,  though  you  didn't  behave 
quite  friendly." 

"  It's  understood,  lads,"  said  Jimmy  Clark,  "  that  who- 
ever licks  we  makes  friends,  and  each  party  goes  its  own 
way. " 

Everyone  assented. 

"  We'll  stand  the  liquor,"  remarked  Harvey,  "  and  all 
shall  be  agreeable  as  far  as  we  can  make  it." 

"  All  right,"  replied  Jimmy;  "  I'll  back  up  Sam,  and 
that  gentleman  with  the  clerical  mug  on  him  will  per- 
haps do  the  same  for  Ben." 

He  pointed  to  Mr.  Mole. 

"  Did  you  allude  to  me  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Mole. 

"  You're  the  cove.  Step  out  here  and  we'll  see  fair 
play. " 

"  I  can  have  no  possible  objection  to  seconding  the 
champion  of  our  party,  but  I  strongly  object  to  being 
called  the  cove  with  the  clerical — what  did  you  say  ? " 

"  Mug,"  replied  Jimmy. 


80  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  'S  AD  VENTURES 

"  I  think  I  understand  your  meaning,  though  I  must 
protest  against  the  vulgarity  of  your  language.  However, 
let  that  pass.  I  will  do  my  duty,"  replied  Mr.  Mole. 

Jimmy  Clark  took  his  place  behind  Sam  Parsons. 

Mr.  Mole  took  his  behind  Ben  Blunt. 
"  Make  ready,"  said  Jimmy. 

The  cutlasses  described  circles  in  the  air. 

"  At  the  word  '  three,'  strike,"  continued  Jimmy. 

There  was  a  momentary  pause. 

Then  Jimmy  exclaimed — 

"  One,  two,  three  !  " 

In  an  instant  the  blades  crossed  and  struck  fire. 

Sam  Parsons  was  a  tall,  active  fellow,  but  Ben  was  the 
stronger  of  the  two. 

Perhaps  he  was  not  so  active  as  his  opponent,  though 
he  seemed  to  understand  the  sword  exercise. 

The  spectators  applauded  their  respective  champions, 
taking  the  utmost  interest  in  the  contest 

"  Lay  on,  Sam,"  cried  the  mutineers.  "  Stick  to  him, 
lad  ;  let  him  have  it !  " 

While  Jack  and  Harvey  said — 

"  Cut  him  down,  Ben — that's  your  sort !  Be  careful, 
old  man.  Now  you  have  him  !  " 

Sam  Parsons  had  the  honour  of  dealing  the  first  cut  that 
drew  blood. 

It  was  an  ugly  blow  on  the  left  shoulder  but  it  did  not 
disable  his  opponent 

The  pain  it  caused  him  made  him  more  furious  than 
ever. 

Hunston  looked  on  and  gnashed  his  teeth,  for  this 
affair  was  so  different  to  what  he  had  anticipated 

He  intended  to  have  massacred  all  his  own  friends,  and 
his  plans  were  spoilt  by  the  chivalrous  combat  that  was 
taking  place. 

Of  course  he  was  safe  with  the  mutineers,  and  did  not 
fear  being  taken  prisoner. 

They  would  protect  him. 

At  length,  Ben,  by  a  lucky  stroke,  brought  Sam  Parsons 
on  one  knee,  having  cut  through  the  tendons  of  his  left  leg. 

"  Good  again,  Ben  !     Cut  him  down  !  "  cried  Jack. 

"Curse  the  luck!"  gasped  the  mutineer,  still  dealing 
blows  with  his  cutlass. 

Ben  Blunt  was  excited,  and  encouraged  by  the  cries  of 


AFL  OA  T  AND  ASHORE.  8 1 

his  party,  rushed  forward  raised,  his  weapon  with  both 
hands,  and  brought  it  down  on  the  defenceless  head  of 
his  enemy. 

There  was  a  groan. 

Sam  Parsons  fell  forward  on  his  face,  his  head  being 
cleft  in  two  to  the  chin. 

The  mutineer's  last  hour  had  come. 

There  was  a  faint  gurgle  in  his  throat,  a  sort  of  death- 
rattle,  and  he  gave  up  the  ghost. 

With  the  utmost  composure  the  mutineers  removed  the 
body  out  of  sight. 

Then  Jimmy  Clark  went  up  to  Ben,  and  said — 

"  I  guess  you're  best  man,  and  Sammy's  gone  home." 

"  And  you're  cap'n  of  the  '  Sea-horse,'"  replied  Ben. 

"  That's  right  enough.  However,  we'll  keep  our  com- 
pact. No  more  fighting.  You've  done  the  trick,  Ben, 
and  so  we'll  claim  your  promise.  Bring  out  the  liquor." 

Jack  was  horrified  at  the  careless  indifference  of  those 
men  at  the  loss  of  their  companion. 

A  moment's  reflection  showed  him  that  a  ship's  crew 
who  had  risen  against  and  killed  their  officers  were  not 
likely  to  give  way  to  tender  emotions. 

Nor  had  he  any  time  to  waste  in  a  melting  mood. 

"  Monday,"  he  exclaimed. 

"  Yes,  sare,"  replied  the  black. 

"  Bring  out  the  stone  bottle — you  know  which  one," 
he  added,  in  the  native  language,  in  a  low  tone. 

Monday  nodded  his  head  in  a  significant  manner,  and 
entered  the  cave. 

He  returned  with  a  large  stone  bottle  containing  rum. 

The  contents  had  been  drugged  with  the  peculiar  herb 
of  which  he  had  spoken. 

Harvey  and  Mr.  Mole  were  attending  to  Ben  Blunt's 
hurt,  which  they  bound  up. 

"  Now,  my  lads,  bring  yourselves  to  an  anchor,"  ex- 
claimed Jack.  "  We  shan't  charge  you  any  more  for  sit- 
ting. Here  are  some  cups,  such  as  we  use  ourselves,  and 
here's  the  stuff." 

With  this  he  distributed  some-half  cocoa-nutshells,  which 
could  not  be  set  down  until  they  were  empty,  the  bot- 
tom being  round. 

The  men  began  to  pour  out  the  liquor  and  Jack  spoke 
to  Hunston,  saying — 
6 


82  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"  Are  you  going  to  join  your  new  friends  ? " 

"  No,  I'm  not,"  replied  Hunston.  "  I'm  going  to  take 
my  hook.  The  sight  of  you  makes  me  feel  ill " 

"Does  it?"  answered  Jack,  with  a  sneer.  "  Then 
take  that  with  you  to  remind  you  of  me." 

As  he  spoke  he  kicked  him  as  hard  as  he  could  just  as 
he  turned  his  back 

"  You  dare "  cried  Hunston,  in  a  rage. 

Jack  levelled  a  pistol-barrel  at  him. 

"  Sheer  off,"  he  exclaimed,  "  or  I'll  settle  accounts 
with  you,  and  wipe  out  all  I  have  got  against  you. " 

"  A  time  will  come,"  said  Hunston,  burning  with  rage. 

The  next  instant  he  had  darted  away  and  was  lost  to 
sight  in  the  dense  jungle. 

Returning  to  the  mutineers  Jack  saw  that  they  had  all 
drunk. 

Then  he  gave  the  stone  bottle  to  Monday,  saying — 

"  This  is  empty  ;  go  and  get  another." 

"  Ah,  that's  right,"  exclaimed  Jimmy  ;  "  you'll  join  us. 
I  thought  you  weren't  going  to  leave  us  all  alone.  When 
we've  had  this  drinking  bout  out  and  the  truce  is  over, 
we  shall  be  at  liberty  to  fight  again." 

"  Oh,  yes  ;  I  quite  understand  that,"  replied  Jack. 

"  You  know,  we  ain't  going  to  let  Ben  Blunt  crow 
over  us. " 

"Of  course  not." 

"  We  arranged  that  poor  Sammy  and  Ben  should  fight 
it  out,  and  that  there  should  be  a  truce,"  continued  Jimmy. 
"  Now  we're  drinking  to  our  noble  selves  ;  but  when  we 
leave  you  here  and  get  out  of  sight,  the  war  begins  again." 

"  We're  ready  for  you,"  said  Jack. 

Mr.  Mole  approached. 

"  I  think,  Harkaway,  that  I  should  not  be  showing  the 
loving  kindness  of  my  nature  if  I  did  not  drink  the  health 
of  these  fine  fellows." 

"  Fire  away,  sir,"  answered  Jack,  handing  him  a  cup 
full  of  rum. 

Harvey,  Ben,  and  Monday  now  came  in  for  their  share 
and  they  all  fraternised. 

"  Ben,  you  old  lubber,"  said  Jimmy,  "  come  and  join 
us,  lad,  and  we'll  make  you  our  cap'n." 

"  Not  if  I  know  it,  Jimmy,"  answered  Ben. 

"  You  won't  ?    Then  to-morrow  will  see  you  as  low  as 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  83 

poor  Sam  Parsons,  and  we  shall  have  lost  the  two  best 
men  in  our  crew." 

"  I'll  never  be  a  mutineer,"  replied  Ben.  "  Scuttle  me 
first." 

"  Come,  gentlemen,"  exclaimed  Jack,  fearing  a  quarrel, 
"  let  the  merry  jest  go  round.  We're  friends  now,  what- 
ever we  may  be  to-morrow." 

"  That's  right,"  answered  Jimmy.  "  Who'll  favour  us 
with  a  song  ?  Will  you,  sir  ?  " 

This  request  was  addressed  to  Mr.  Mole. 

"I — I  sing  ?  "  said  Mr.  Mole,  in  surprise.  "I  never 
did  such  a  thing  in  my  life.  It  is  totally  out  of  keeping 
with  my  character." 

"Go  on,  sir,"  said  Jack.  "You  can  tip  them  a  stave  if 
you  like." 

1 '  Harka way,  I  protest. " 

"It's  no  use  protesting,  sir.  You're  knocked  down  for 
a  song,  and  sing  you  must.  It  will  be  your  call  after- 
wards. " 

Harvey  clapped  his  hands. 

"Silence,  gentlemen,"  he  said,  "silence,  please,  for  Mr. 
Mole's  song." 

There  was  a  dead  silence,  and  everybody  looked  at 
Mr.  Mole. 

The  unhappy  gentleman  bestowed  a  supplicating  look 
upon  Jack,  who  kept  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  ground. 

"The  penalty  for  not  singing  is  being  ducked  in  the  sea, 
I  believe,"  remarked  Harvey. 

Thus  stimulated,  Mr.  Mole  sighed,  and  said — 

"  If  I  must,  I  must,  though  I  can  only  give  you  a  dimly- 
remembered  trifle  of  my  childhood. 

Clearing  his  throat  he  sang,  in  a  cracked  voice — 

"  Did  you  ever,  ever,  ever  see  a  whale  ? 
Did  you  ever,  ever,  ever  see  a  whale  ? " 

Did  you " 

"Blarmme,"  interrupted  Ben  Blunt,   "if  I  didn't  once 

see  a  lovely  spermaceti  whale  off  the  coast " 

"Order,  Ben.  Shut  up,"  cried  Jack.  "You're  inter- 
rupting the  harmony." 

"Beg  pardon,  sir.     Thought  he  was  speaking  to  me, 

acos  he  looked " 

"  Will  you  dry  up  ?  " 

Ben  collapsed,  and  Mr.   Mole  continued — 


84  JACK  HA  RKA  WAY'S  AD  VENTURES 

"  Did  you  ever,  ever,  ever  see  a  whale  ? 
No,  I  never,  never,  never ; 
No,  I  never,  never,  never,  saw  a  whale, 
But  I've  often,  often,  often ; 
But  I've  often,  often,  often  seen  a  cow." 

How  much  longer  Mr.  Mole  might  have  gone  on  with 
his  song  it  is  difficult  to  say. 

His  voice,  however,  was  drowned  in  a  rude  burst  of 
loud  laughter,  in  which  every  one  joined. 

This  was  followed  by  hurrahs  and  bravos,  and  it  be- 
came quite  a  word  afterwards  with  every  one  to  say,  "Did 
you  ever  see  a  whale?"  and  the  reply  would  be,  "No, 
but  I've  seen  a  cow." 

Mr.  Mole  sat  down  and  solaced  himself  with  a  little 
refreshment. 

"I  flatter  myself  I  did  that  well,  Harkaway,"  remarked 
Mr.  Mole.  ' '  I  was  greeted  with  applause,  and  came  off 
with  flying  colours." 

' '  Certainly,  sir, "  replied  Jack.  Adding,  ' '  Dick,  did  you 
ever  see  a  whale  ?  " 

At  this  there  was  another  roar,  in  which  Mr.  Mole 
joined. 

'The  fact  is,  Harkaway,"  continued  Mr.  Mole,    "that 
it  sn't  everybody  who  could  sing  that  song." 
So  I  should  think,  sir." 

'  The  words  are  so  simple " 

'Very  simple,  sir,"  said  Jack,  with  a  grin. 
'So  simple,  I  say,"  continued  Mr.  Mole,  "that  a  great 
deal  depends  on  the  way  it  is  sung." 

Jack  now  remarked  that  some  of  the  mutineers  were 
lying  on  their  sides. 

The  drug  was  beginning  to  take  effect. 

"Hullo!  dowse  my  daylights!"  exclaimed  Jimmy 
Clark,  "  but  this  is  a  rummy  go.  I've  come  over  wonder- 
ful sleepy  all  of  a  minute." 

"  Pitch  on  the  ground,  then,"  replied  Ben  Blunt.  "No- 
body won't  eat  you." 

Unable  to  resist  the  influence  of  the  drug  that  Monday 
had  mixed  with  the  liquor,  the  leader  sank  gently  forward. 

Directly  afterwards  he  was  fast  asleep. 

One  by  one  the  mutineers  dropped  off,  and  springing  to 
his  feet,  Jack  exclaimed — 

"Now,  my  boys,  are  you  all  armed?  " 


A  FLO  A  T  AND  ASHORE.  85 

There  was  a  general  chorus  in  the  affirmative. 
'  Does  the  boat  float,  Monday  ?  " 

'Yes,  sare  ;  him  float  safe  enough,"     replied  Monday. 
'Slip  your  cable  then,  and  away  to  the  'Sea-horse.' 
She  is  ours  if  we  do  our  duty." 

'  Hur "  began  Harvey. 

'  Silence,  Dick.  No  holloaing  till  we're  out  of  the  wood. 
That  thief  Hunston's  slinking  about  somewhere.  We've 
our  work  cut  out  for  us  yet,"  interrupted  Jack. 

They  did  not  know  how  many  men  had  been  left  on 
board  the  ship. 

But  their  enterprise  had  succeeded  so  well,  as  far  as  it 
had  gone,  that  they  ran  down  the  beach  flushed  with  hope, 
and  jumped  into  the  boat. 

When  they  were  all  seated  the  sail  bellied  to  the  breeze, 
and  away  they  went. 


CHAPTER  XXL 

TAKING   THE   SHIP. 

THEY  had  not  gone  far  from  the  shore  when  Hunston, 
who  had  been  hiding  in  the  bushes,  crept  up  to  the  scene 
of  the  late  revelry. 

The  stillness  that  reigned  where  just  before  all  had  been 
noise  and  uproar  alarmed  him. 

The  sudden  quietude   boded  no  good. 

When  he  saw  the  mutineers  all  extended  on  the  ground, 
he  thought  they  were  dead. 

But  a  glance  assured  him  that  they  slept,  and  as  their 
hearts  beat,  and  they  breathed  easily,  it  was  clear  that 
they  were  not  poisoned. 

' '  They  have  been  drugged, "  he  muttered. 

His  next  anxiety  was  to  discover  what  had  become  of 
Jack  and  his  companions. 

He  reached  the  cave,  and  found  nobody. 

Then  he  gazed  out  over  the  sea,  and  saw  the  boat  sail- 
ing towards  the  ship. 

"Fiend  take  them!"  he  cried.  "This  is  Jack's  plan, 
I'll  bet  a  sovereign,  and  a  good  one  it  is  too.  There 
cannot  be  more  than  half-a-dozen  men  on  board  the 


86  JA  CK  HARK  A  W 'A  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

'Sea-horse,'  and  probably  they  are  drunk  and  keeping  no 
look-out. " 

He  danced  about  with  uncontrollable  passion. 

All  at  once  he  remembered  that  Sam  Parsons  had  told 
him  he  had  arranged  a  signal  with  those  on  board  the  ship. 

This  was  to  light  a  fire. 

If  the  look-out  on  board  the  "Sea-horse"  saw  a  fire  on 
the  shore,  he  would  know  at  once  that  there  was  danger 
in  the  wind. 

"I'll  try  and  foil  Harkaway,  at  all  hazards,"  he  cried. 

Hastily  gathering  together  some  sticks,  he  contrived  to 
light  a  fire  by  striking  two  flints  together  over  some  dry 
grass. 

Heaping  what  wood  he  could  find  on  the  top  of  it,  he 
soon  had  a  roaring  fire. 

A  black  column  of  smoke  ascended  high  in  the  air  and 
extended  seaward. 

"Those  on  board  the  ship  must  see  the  signal,"  he 
muttered. 

If  the  ship  was  captured  he  knew  that  his  dearest 
scheme  would  be  frustrated. 

Jack  had  learnt  from  the  native  he  captured,  that  Emily 
had  been  sent  to  the  pirates'  stronghold. 

This  was  called  the  City  of  the  Golden  Towers. 

The  ship  would  enable  Jack  to  sail  to  the  island,  on 
which  the  famous  city  was  situated,  and  the  rescue  of 
Emily  would  be  comparatively  easy. 

Besides  this,  the  vessel  would  take  Jack  back  to  Eng- 
land, while  Hunston  would  be  left  alone  amongst  the 
savages. 

"I  could  gnaw  my  heart  out  with  vexation,"  he  said, 
almost  crying  with  rage. 

He  stood  by  the  fire  piling  on  wood,  and  watching  the 
progress  of  the  boat  towards  the  ship. 

The  morning  had  broken  clear  and  serene  ;  not  a  cloud 
obscured  the  magnificent  disc  of  the  yellow  sun. 

A  refreshing  breeze  carried  the  boat  over  the  water  like 
a  thing  of  life. 

In  his  impatience,  Jack  had  seized  an  oar,  while  Har- 
vey had  grasped  another. 

She  flew  through  the  water. 

Monday  looked  after  the  sail,  while  Mr.  Mole  sat  be- 
hind Ben  Blunt,  who  handled  the  tiller. 


A  FLO  A  T  AND  ASHORE.  87 

The  dangerous  nature  of  the  task  they  had  undertaken 
prevented  them  from  feeling  any  inclination  to  talk. 

It  seemed  an  age  before  they  reached  the  ship,  though 
the  actual  distance  traversed  was  not  more  than  five  or 
six  miles. 

When  they  were  within  a  few  yards  of  the  vessel,  they 
saw  dark  forms  on  the  deck. 

"  Ship  ahoy  !  "  cried  a  sailor. 

' '  Lower  your  flag  !  "  exclaimed  Jack,  dropping  his  oar 
and  grasping  his  weapons. 

"Who  are  you,  and  where  do  you  hail  from?"  con- 
tinued the  mutineer. 

"You  know  me,  Bill  Drake,  don't  you?"  said  Ben 
Blunt. 

"Of  course  I  do.  What  tack  are  you  on  now,  Ben?" 
returned  the  one  addressed  as  Blake. 

"  Sam  Parsons  is  dead,  and  I've  come  to  summon  you 
to  lay  down  your  arms." 

"  Never  !  "  replied  Drake.  "There's  something  wrong, 
lads.  I  see  the  signal  on  the  shore  ;  it's  a  caution.  Take 
your  boat  away,"  he  added,  "or,  by ,  we'll  sink  her  !  " 

"Pour  in  a  volley  !  "  cried  Jack.  "Now,  then,  each  of 
you  cover  your  man  and  aim  low.  Are  you  ready  ?  Fire  !  " 

In  a  moment  there  was  a  succession  of  reports. 

"Run  her  alongside,  Ben,  and  then  board  her!"  con- 
tinued Jack. 

"  I'll  stick  to  you,"  said  Harvey  to  his  friend. 

"All  right.  Bet  you  a  bob  I'm  on  deck  first,  Dick," 
replied  Jack. 

Almost  directly,  the  crew  of  the  boat  were  clambering 
up  the  sides  of  the  ship. 

Whether  the  mutineers  were  disheartened  or  not,  Jack 
did  not  know. 

But  they  returned  the  fire  in  a  half-hearted  manner, 
Which  did  not  appear  to  do  any  damage. 

With  his  pistols  in  his  belt,  and  a  knife  between  his 
teeth,  Jack  went  up  the  ship's  side,  as  if  he  were  walking 
upstairs  into  his  father's  drawing-room. 

Harvey  was  after  him  in  a  trice. 

They  saw  four  men  on  deck,  two  having  fallen  at  the 
first  discharge. 

Jack  having  fired  his  pistol  at  one,  rushed  at  the  other 
with  his  dirk  and  ran  it  through  his  body. 


88  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

Harvey  made  short  work  with  another,  and  the  fourth 
fell  on  his  knees  and  begged  for  mercy. 

"Shall  I  settle  him ? "  asked  Harvey. 

' '  No,  let  the  beggar  live.  Take  away  his  arms,  though, " 
replied  Jack.  The  mutineer  gladly  allowed  himself  to  be 
disarmed,  and  then  the  victors  looked  round  to  see  the 
extent  of  the  damage. 

By  this  time  Monday  had  gained  the  deck,  not  being  so 
active  as  the  boys,  who,  of  course,  knew  much  better 
how  to  get  on  board  a  ship  than  he  did 

"  Oh,  Mast'  Jack ! "  cried  Monday  ;  "  how  him  bleed  I " 

"Who? "asked  Jack. 

"  You,  sare ;  look,  your  face  I  " 

Jackput  up  his  hand  and  withdrew  it  covered  with  blood. 

"By  Jove!"  he  said;  "I've  copped  it,  somehow, 
though  I  didn't  feel  I  was  wounded.  Is  it  much,  Dick  ? " 

Harvey  approached  to  examine  and  said — 

"  It  isn't  deep,  but  it's  a  neat  enough  cut  over  the  cheek 
bone.  It's  a  cutlass  wound.  I  saw  one  of  the  fellows 
make  a  swipe  at  you  as  you  boarded." 

"  Tie  something  round  it,  will  you  ?  " 

Taking  a  handkerchief  off  his  neck,  Harvey  fastened  it 
as  well  as  he  could  round  his  friend's  face. 

"Hurrah,"  said  Jack,  "the  ship's  ours!  Ben!  Where's 
Ben  ? " 

"  Here,  cap'n,"  replied  the  old  sailor  coming  up  the 
ship's  side  with  difficulty.  "I've  got  a  bullet  in  the  leg, 
but  I  wouldn't  stop  below." 

"That's  a  pity,  for  we're  short-handed  already,  and 
can't  afford  to  let  you  go  into  the  sick  bay,"  said  Jack. 

Harvey  had  a  look  at  the  wound,  and  exclaimed — 

"I'm  surgeon's  mate,  Ben." 

"  Might  have  a  worse,  sir,  and  meaning  no  flattery  to 
you,"  answered  Ben." 

The  ball  fortunately  had  not  gone  in  very  far,  and 
Dick  felt  it  by  probing  the  wound  with  his  finger. 

"Can  you  plumb  it,  sir?"  asked  Ben. 

"  True  as  a  die,  Ben.     Shut  your  mouth  and  keep  still." 

"Oh  !  That  last  poke  seemed  to  touch  up  a  muscle," 
cried  Ben,  wincing  beneath  the  pain. 

Harvey  had  one  of  those  wonderful  knives  in  his 
pocket,  which  are  a  cork-screw,  penknife,  stone-picker, 
bradawl,  forceps,  etc.,  all  in  one. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  89 

Opening  the  forceps,  he,  with  great  nerve  and  consider- 
able skill,  inserted  the  instrument  in  the  wound,  grappled 
the  bullet,  and  drew  it  out. 

' '  The  Lord  love  you,  sir, "  said  Ben,  joyfully.  ' '  Perhaps 
you've  saved  my  life,  leastways,  my  leg,  which  would 
have  cankered  without  a  doctor's  help." 

Harvey  tore  up  part  of  his  shirt  and  made  bandages, 
which  he  tied  round  the  wound. 

' '  Now  you  lie  still,  my  old  sea-lion, "  he  said.  ' '  You've 
got  an  uncommon  bad  leg,  and  we  shall  have  you  tied  up 
in  your  hammock  with  a  big  shot  at  your  feet,  if  you 
don't  watch  it" 

Ben  hobbled  to  the  after-deck,  and  sat  down  on  a  car- 
ronade,  knowing  that  Dick's  advice  was  too  good  not 
to  be  followed. 

The  bodies  of  the  mutineers  were  quickly  thrown  over- 
board by  Monday,  and  the  decks  swabbed. 

In  a  short  time  not  even  a  blood-stain  remained  to  show 
there  had  been  an  action. 

Going  up  to  Ben,  Jack  said — 

"  What's  the  name  of  the  man  whose  life  we  spared  ? 
Will  he  join  us  ?" 

"Bouncer's  his  name,  leastways,  I  never  heard  him 
called  anything  else,"  answered  Ben  ;  "and  as  to  join- 
ing us,  will  a  duck  swim  ?  " 

' '  What  do  they  call  him  Bouncer  for  ?  " 

"'Cos  he's  the  biggest  out  and  outer  at  lying  as  ever 
had  breath  put  into  him,"  said  Ben. 

"Oh,  that's  it,"  exclaimed  Jack,  laughing. 

"You  mustn't  believe  anything  that  Bouncer  tells  you, 
'cos  he  can't  speak  the  truth  even  a  little  bit.  He  don't 
know  how." 

"  Can  we  go  to  sea  like  this,  Ben  ?  "  asked  Jack. 

"  No,  sir,"  answered  the  old  sailor.  "We  couldn't  work 
her  if  a  storm  came  on.  It  would  be  a  tempting  of 
Providence,  and  I'd  as  soon  sail  on  a  Friday." 

"Then  what's  the  good  of  the  vessel  ?  "  asked  Jack  in 
a  tone  of  disappointment. 

"Might  man  her  with  niggers,  sir." 

"  Niggers  ?     Natives  you  mean." 

"Yes,"  replied  Ben.  "I've  seen  Lascars  do  their  duty 
when  they've  been  well  larruped  with  a  rope's  end.  But 
you  can't  do  nothing  with  them  with  kindness." 


90  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  ADVENTURES 

"Are  they  lazy?" 

"Ain't  they?"  said  Ben.  "I've  seen  'em — a  score  or 
more — sleeping  on  deck  of  a  night,  cuddled  up  in  each 
other's  arms,  all  the  world  like  monkeys,  and  that's  what 
they'd  like  to  do  always — eat  and  drink  and  sleep  ;  but 
these  here  niggers  may  be  a  chalk  better." 

"I'll  consider  what's  to  be  done,  Ben.  Let  Harvey 
help  you  below.  Turn  into  your  old  bunk.  You  must 
take  care  of  yourself." 

"Thank'ee,  sir.  I  shall  know  little  rest  though  till  I 
can  take  my  place  again  by  your  side,"  answered  the 
sailor. 

"Where's  Mole?"  said  Jack,  as  Harvey  and  Ben 
disappeared. 

In  the  excitement  of  the  moment  he  had  forgotten  all 
about  Mr.  Mole,  and  he  now  looked  anxiously  round  for 
him. 

The  proprietor  of  a  tea-garden  in  China  was  nowhere 
to  be  seen. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

HUNSTON     IN     DANGER. 

THE  delight  of  Harkaway  at  having  so  boldly  and 
gallantly  captured  the  beautiful  little  ship  "Sea-horse" 
was  unbounded. 

He  had  many  difficulties  yet  to  contend  with  ;  but 
having  possession  of  the  vessel  gave  him  hopes  of  sailing 
to  the  mysterious  city  where  Emily  had  been  sent. 

Then,  having  rescued  her,  he  could  up  anchor  and  sail 
for  England. 

The  very  thought  of  his  home  and  all  his  friends,  who 
no  doubt,  for  his  long  silence,  were  mourning  him  as 
dead,  sent  him  wild  with  joy. 

He  forgot  the  pain  of  his  wound,  which  was  beginning 
to  stiffen. 

He  forgot  all  the  difficulties  he  had  to  encounter,  and 
had  it  not  been  for  his  anxiety  on  Mr.  Mole's  account,  he 
would  have  sunk  into  a  charming  reverie. 

Monday  came  up  at  this  moment,  and  he  said — 

"  Have  you  seen  Mr.  Mole  ?     I  am  afraid  he  is  hurt, 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  91 

and  I  wouldn't  lose  Mole  for  the  world.  We  should  have 
no  fun  without  him." 

Monday  grinned. 

"Mist'  Mole  all  right,  sare,"  he  replied. 

"Is  he ?  How  do  you  know  that?  "  asked  Jack,  much 
relieved. 

"  Monday  saw  him  lower  the  sail  in  the  boat,  and  creep 
under  um,  sare." 

"He's in  the  boat,  then?" 

"Yes,  sare." 

Jack  looked  over  the  side,  and  saw  the  boat  drifting 
astern. 

"  Drop  into  the  water,  and  swim  to  her,"  he  exclaimed, 
"  or  she'll  get  into  a  current  and  go  in  shore.  He'll 
never  work  her  himself." 

Monday  had  no  superfluous  clothing,  and  quickly 
dropped  into  the  sea,  swimming  like  a  fish  towards  the 
boat. 

He  looked  under  the  sail,  but  saw  no  one. 

"  Him  gone,"  he  exclaimed. 

"Gone  !  Pull  the  boat  in,  and  make  fast  the  painter 
to  the  ship,"  answered  Jack,  whose  presence  of  mind 
never  failed  him. 

He  had  got  into  the  habit  now  of  giving  orders,  and 
commanded  as  if  he  had  been  born  to  it. 

In  a  short  time  Monday  worked  the  boat  back,  moored 
her,  and  came  on  deck,  his  dusky  skin  glistening  in  the 
sun  after  his  immersion. 

"  Now,  where's  Mole  ?  "  said  Jack. 

"Monday  saw  him,  sare,  creep  under  the  sail  when 
we  began  to  fire." 

"Perhaps  he's  on  board,  and  we  have  missed  him. 
Come  below." 

Jack  went  down  the  hatch,  and  entered  the  captain's 
cabin. 

Here  to  his  surprise,  was  Mr.  Mole. 

On  the  floor  lay  a  man,  very  much  the  worse  for  liquor, 
and  Mr.  Mole  had  put  his  foot  on  his  neck. 

Bottles  of  various  kinds,  containing  spirits  and  wines, 
were  displayed  on  the  table. 

Mr.  Mole  had  been  trying  each  of  them,  and  held  a 
glass  of  something  red  in  his  hand,  which  he  was  sipping 
with  great  gusto. 


92  JACK  HARKA  WA  y'S  ADVENTURES 

"How  did  you  get  here,  sir?"  asked  Jack.  "We 
thought  you  had  come  to  grief. " 

"  Harkaway,"  answered  Mr.  Mole,  "I  have  subjugated 
this  Philistine.  Look  at  him  !  " 

"I  can  see  him,  sir." 

"  Have  I  not  put  my  foot  on  his  neck?  " 

"But  how  did  you  get  into  this  stateroom  ?  "  persisted 
Jack. 

"You  shall  hear.  First  of  all,  try  a  glass  of  this 
liquor.  I  know  not  its  name,  but  of  a  verity,  Harkaway, 
it  is  comforting  to  the  inner  man." 

"  Don't  mind  if  I  do,  sir.  1  got  a  nasty  knock  on  the 
head,  and  don't  feel  over  and  above  bobbish,"  replied 
Jack. 

They  drank,  Mr.  Mole  raising  his  glass  to  his  mouth 
with  an  unsteady  hand,  and  saying — 

"When  the  boat  struck  against  the  side  of  this  goodly 
ship  I  saw  a  port-hole,  Harkaway." 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  My  first  impulse  was  to  follow  you  on  deck,  but  on 
reflection,  I  decided  not  to  do  so.  I  crept  through  the 
port-hole,  and  entered  this  cabin." 

"Where  you  found  the  liquor,  sir,"  said  Jack. 

"No,  Harkaway,  not  so, "  replied  Mr.  Mole.  "Where 
I  found  this  truculent  mutineer.  We  fought  for  more 
than  ten  minutes,  and  at  last  1  conquered  him." 

"You  haven't  got  a  scratch,  sir.  That's  lucky,  after 
a  ten-minutes'  tussle." 

"  I  don't  show  my  wounds  like  some  people.  If  I  am 
thrust  through  the  thigh  with  a  murderous  sort  of  knife, 
I  don't  go  and  proclaim  it  on  the  housetops,  not  I,  Hark- 
away," 

"Well,  I'm  glad  to  see  you  so  well  as  you  are,  sir," 
replied  Jack.  "You'll  excuse  me  for  a  time,  as  I  have 
affairs  to  attend  to. " 

"Can  I  help  you?     If  so,  command  Isaac  Mole." 

"You  must  come  on  deck,  sir.  I  must  keep  this 
cabin  shut  up." 

"Shut  up  the  cabin  ?"  said  Mr.  Mole,  in  dismay. 

"Yes;  this  is  my  den  in  the  future.  I'm  captain,  sir, 
and  you  shall  be  one  of  my  lieutenants." 

"This  is  reversing  the  order  of  things,  Harkaway. 
Am  I  not  entitled  by  my  age  and  experience  to  be  the 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  93 

leader?    I  will  not  quit  this  cabin  at  present,  I  protest 
against  it ;  but  I  will  drink  your  health  nevertheless." 

While  he  was  speaking  he  slipped  off  his  chair,  and 
fell  stretched  on  the  floor. 

"Let  him  be,  sare,"  said  Monday.  "Him  right 
enough  now." 

"You  black  beast!"  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole.  "I  will 
teach  you  how  to  respect  your  pastors  and  masters  when 
I  am  better.  Just  now  I  feel  sleepy.  My  exertions  in 
the  battle  have  made  me  drowsy.  You  can  go  and  play. " 

A  benignant  smile  overspread  his  countenance,  and 
Jack  and  Monday  left  the  cabin. 

Going  on  deck  again,  they  met  Harvey. 

"Hullo,  Jack!"  said  Harvey,  "did  you  ever  see  a 
whale  ? " 

"  No,  I  never,  never  saw  a  whale,  but  I've  just  seen  a 
Mole,"  replied  Jack. 

"Where?" 

"  In  the  cabin — tight." 

"Well,  he's  happy.  I  thought  he  was  potted. 
Shouldn't  like  to  lose  old  Mole.  He  isn't  a  bad  sort,  and! 
taught  our  young  ideas,  you  know." 

"So  he  did.     I  like  Mole.     He  keeps  us  alive." 

"  Well,  what's  the  next  move?  "  said  Harvey. 

"  Blest  if  I  know  ;  I'm  cornered,"  answered  Jack.  "1 
must  have  a  little  while  to  rest  and  think.  There's  Mole 
tight,  Ben  Blunt  wounded,  and  I'm  dead  beat" 

"  You're  wounded  too." 

"It  isn't  much,  though  I  must  own  I  want  rest,"  said 
Jack. 

"Have  it  then.  Monday  and  I  will  keep  watch. 
There  are  too  small  cannons  on  deck,  which  I  suppose 
the  crew  had  to  protect  them  against  the  Malay  pirates. 
We  will  keep  them  loaded,  and  if  the  mutineers  wake  up 
and  try  to  board  us,  we  will  sink  them." 

"By  the  way,  Monday,"  asked  Jack,  "how  long  will 
the  fellows  be  before  the  drug  works  off  ? " 

"  They  wide  'wake  enough  now,  sare,"  replied  Monday. 

"  How  do  you  know  ?  " 

"You  look,  sare.  See  um  all  dance  about ;  and,  look, 
they  got  Mast'  Hunston  !  " 

"I'll  be  hanged  if  I  can  see  them.  Your  eyes  are 
sharper  than  mine,"  replied  Jack. 


94  J*  CX  HA  RKA  WAY'S  AD  VENTURES 

"Get  a  glass,  Monday?"  said  Harvey.  "We  have 
one  somewhere." 

Monday  saw  one  lying  on  the  deck,  and  handed  it  to 
Jack. 

He  put  the  telescope  to  his  eye,  and  took  a  steady 
view  of  the  opposite  shore. 

"  By  Jove  !  "  he  said.  "  Monday's  right  The  fellows 
are  all  up,  and  bustling  about  like  bees. " 

"  Have  they  got  Hunston  ? "  asked  Harvey. 

"  Yes ;  they  are  binding  a  fellow  who  looks  like  Hunston. " 

"Him  Mast'  Hunston,  sure  enough,"  said  Monday. 
"Me  never  forget  um  face." 

"What  are  they  going  to  do  with  him?"  continued 
Harvey. 

"Jiggered  if  I  know,"  answered  Jack.  "They've  got 
him  safe.  There  is  something  on,  but  what  it  is,  I  can't 
make  out  for  the  life  of  me. " 

"I  expect  he's  had  a  row  with  the  mutineers,"  said 
Harvey;  "but  he'll  square  it  with  them,  no  doubt  It 
isn't  worth  while  bothering  about  him." 

"Not  much,"  replied  Jack. 

He  dropped  the  glass,  and  as  he  did  so,  Bouncer,  who 
had  been  neglected  in  the  confusion  came  up. 

"Beg  pardon,  captain,"  he  said. 

"What  do  you  want?  Oh,  you  are  the  prisoner," 
replied  Jack. 

"Yes,  sir,  and  I  want  to  know  what  you're  going  to 
do  with  me." 

"Look  here,  Mr.  Bouncer,"  said  Jack;  "the  ship  is 
ours  now,  and  we  mean  to  take  very  good  care  she  shall 
remain  ours.  If  you  like  to  become  one  of  our  crew, 
we'll  take  you  to  England  with  us,  and  say  nothing 
about  the  mutiny." 

"That's  generous,  sir,"  replied  Bouncer,  "though,  to 
tell  you  the  truth,  I  was  dead  against  the  rising  from  the 
first,  and  it  was  through  me  that  Ben  Blunt's  life  was  saved. " 

Jack  did  not  quite  believe  this,  for  he  remembered 
what  Ben  had  said  about  Bouncer's  lying  powers. 

"You'll  be  short-handed,  sir,"  continued  Bouncer. 
--There's  only  yourselves,  me,  and  Geary,  who's  been 
drunk  in  the  captain's  cabin  for  the  last  two  days." 

"You'll  have  to  work  double  tides,  then,"  said  Jack; 
"but  we  mean  to  get  some  niggers  to  ship  with  us. ' 


A  FLO  A  T  AND  AS f JOKE. 


95 


"  From  one  of  the  islands  ?  " 

"Yes  ;  say  a  dozen  or  so,  and  they  can  be  brought  to 
their  homes  by  the  next  ship  that  comes  out  this  way. 
I'll  see  about  that." 

"Then  I'd  better  set  about  my  duty,  sir,"  exclaimed 
Bouncer;  "for  although  I  say  it  who  shouldn't,  there 
isn't  a  better  fo'castle  hand  than  I  am." 

"No  treachery,  mind,  Mr.  Bouncer,"  said  Jack.  "If 
I  see  the  least  symptom  of  an  inclination  on  your  part  to 
join  your  old  friends,  I'll  shoot  you  like  a  seagull." 

"No  fear,  sir.  I'm  glad  to  be  under  a  proper  cap'n 
again.  When  do  you  sail  ?  " 

"Not  yet.  We  must  wait  till  that  drunken  hound  in 
the  cabin  is  sober,  and  Ben  Blunt  can  get  about  and  give 
us  a  hand.  You,  I,  Harvey,  and  Monday,  with  Mr. 
Mole  thrown  in,  are  not  sufficient  to  work  the  ship." 

"That's  the  crew,  is  it,  sir?  Four  men  and  a  black — 
five  all  told." 

"That's  all — five  men,  if  you  like  to  call  Harvey  and  I 
men." 

"Ah,  I  could  spin  you  a  yarn,  sir,"  said  Bouncer,  "  of 
how  I  and  another  chap  crossed  the  Atlantic,  when  we 
wasn't  fourteen  years  old,  in  a  cockle-shell  of  thirty  tons. 
It  isn't  the  years,  it's  the  spirit  that  makes  a  man." 

"There  is  something  in  that,"  replied  Jack  ;  "and  now 
keep  a  good  look-out.  Those  two  small  cannons  are  loaded. 
If  the  mutineers  come  near  us  in  their  boats  depress  the 
muzzles  and  fire  low,  and  we  shall  sink  the  lot  of  them." 

Having  given  some  trifling  orders  to  Harvey  and  Mon- 
day, Jack  took  up  the  glass  again  and  reconnoitred  the 
Shore. 

Hunston  was  certainly  in  trouble. 

But  what  about  ? 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

THE    RAGE   OF   THE    MUTINEERS. 

To  explain  the  peculiar  position  into  which  Hunston 
had  fallen,  we  must  return  to  the  mutineers. 

The  drug  which  had  been  given  them,  though  quick  in 
its  action,  was  not  lasting  in  its  effects. 


96  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

In  a  few  hours  they  had  slept  off  the  lethargy  whicft 
had  overtaken  them. 

Jimmy  Clark,  being  a  man  of  strong  constitution,  was 
the  first  to  return  to  his  senses. 

He  was  followed  by  the  rest  of  his  companions,  one  by 
one. 

They  all  awoke  somewhat  dizzy  and  drowsy,  rubbing 
their  eyes  and  stretching  their  limbs. 

Hunston  no  sooner  saw  they  were  getting  about  again, 
than  he  left  the  signal  fire  and  came  towards  them. 

"What's  the  meaning  of  this,  and  where  are  your  late 
friends  ?  "  asked  Jimmy. 

"They've  been  one  too  many  for  you,  curse  them!" 
replied  Hunston. 

"  How's  that  ;  and  why  did  you  light  the  signal  ?  " 

"To  give  those  on  board  warning  that  there  was 
danger. " 

"What  danger? "  asked  the  mutineer. 

"You've  had  some  stuff  put  in  your  grog,"  said  Hun- 
ston, "  which  sent  you  all  off  to  sleep." 

"  Hang  me,  if  I  didn't  think  as  much." 

"While  you  slept,  the  party,  under  Jack  Harkaway, 
sailed  to  the  ship,  attacked,  and  captured  it.  I  heard 
the  firing,  and  though  I  lighted  the  signal,  it  did  not  save 
the  vessel. " 

The  mutineers  looked  blankly  at  one  another. 

"  Is  this  true?  "  cried  Jimmy  fiercely. 

"Judge  for  yourself,"  replied  Hunston.  "  Look,  they 
are  lowering  the  black  flag  you  hoisted,  and  running  up 
the  Union  Jack." 

"So  they  are.  It's  a  case,  and  Ben  Blunt  has  us  in 
the  palm  of  his  hand.  He'll  send  one  of  Her  Majesty's 
cruisers  after  us,  and  we  shall  be  shot  or  hanged. " 

The  dismay  of  the  mutineers  increased. 

"Death  is  better  than  being  left  on  this  island,"  said 
one. 

Turning  savagely  to  Hunston,  and  eyeing  him  sus- 
piciously, Jimmy  Clark  exclaimed — 

"It  strikes  me,  my  hearty,  that  you've  had  a  hand  in 
this." 

"  I  ? "  repeated  Hunston. 

"  Yes,  you  ;  they  used  to  be  your  friends.  How  is  it 
you  were  not  drugged  with  the  rest  of  us  ?  " 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  97 

"  Because  I  wouldn't  drink  with  them." 

"That  be  bio  wed  for  a  yarn.  Catch  an  old  sailor  re- 
fusing his  allowance,  when  it's  offered  him,"  said  Jimmy. 

"Look  here,"  replied  Hunston,  growing  alarmed  at 
the  threatening  looks  which  were  bent  upon  him  from 
all  sides. 

"  Well  ?  "  said  the  mutineer,  sullenly. 

"  If  I'd  stood  in  with  them,  shouldn't  I  have  gone  off 
in  the  boat  with  them,  and  not  have  stopped  here  with 
you  ? " 

This  argument  did  not  convince  Jimmy. 

"Not  you.  There  is  some  dodge  on.  You  didn't  ex- 
pect us  to  wake  up  so  soon,  and  meant  to  have  joined 
them  later.  If  they  ain't  waiting  for  you,  why  don't  they 
set  sail  at  once?" 

"  Look  'ee  here,"  said  a  hairy,  rough-looking  mutineer, 
"you  see  the  smoke  from  that  fire's  a-blowing  right  into 
the  cave,  ain't  it  ? " 

"Yes,  it  be  so,"  replied  Jimmy. 

"Well,  then,  it's  my  idea  he  meant  to  have  dragged 
all  our  bodies  in  there  and  have  suffocated  us  right  off, 
only  we  come  to  a  sight  too  quick  for  him." 

This  unlikely  suggestion  was  eagerly  caught  at  by  the 
mutineers,  and  fully  believed  in. 

Knives  leaped  from  sheaths  and  flashed  in  the  sunlight. 

More  than  one  pistol  was  levelled  at  Hunston's  head, 
and  his  life  with  these  ferocious  men  did  not  seem  worth 
a  minute's  purchase. 

Jimmy  now  interfered. 

"Put  up  your  shooting-irons,  lads,"  he  exclaimed. 
"There  is  one  comfort,  we've  got  the  traitor." 

"  Kill  him  !  kill  him  !  "  cried  a  chorus  of  voices. 

"Not  yet.  Seize  him  and  bind  his  arms,  so  as  he 
shan't  slip  his  cable." 

A  dozen  willing  hands  fell  upon  Hunston,  and  securely 
bound  his  hands  behind  his  back. 

This  was  what  Jack  had  observed  from  the  deck  of  the 
"Sea-horse." 

It  was  this  confusion  which  had  puzzled  him. 

"Now,  my  lads,  let's  have  a  bit  of  a  palaver,"  said 
Jimmy. 

The  mutineers  crowded  round  their  leader  in  a  circle. 
7 


98  JA  CK  HARK  A  WAY'S  AD  VENTURES 

Hunston  was  sitting  on  the  ground,  looking  sullen  and 
dejected. 

"It  was  this  chap,"  continued  Jimmy,  pointing  to 
Hunston,  "who  got  us  to  come  here  to  attack  Ben 
Blunt,  wasn't  it  ?  " 

"That's  right  enough." 

"Well,  Sam  Parsons  got  killed,  and  I  always  thought 
there  was  foul  play  about  that,  which  was  all  of  a  piece 
with  the  rest." 

"Ben  Blunt  never  could  have  beat  Sam  Parsons  if 
there  wasn't  something  quizzy  a-going  on,"  remarked  a 
mutineer. 

"So  I  say,"  remarked  Jimmy  ;  "  and  it's  all  bits  of  the 
same  plot.  Well,  we  gets  drugged,  doesn't  us  ?  " 

"Sure,"  replied  the  men. 

"Then,  while  we's  asleep,  Ben  and  his  mates  goes  and 
takes  our  ship.  Now  what  I  say  is  that  this  Hunston  ia 
at  the  bottom  of  it  all.  He's  helped  his  friends,  and  all 
what's  happened  is  all  along  of  him." 

"Don't  I  tell  you  that  I  hate  Harkaway  and  all  hia 
companions  like  poison  ?  "  exclaimed  Hunston. 

"What  you  say  don't  matter  much.  It  ain't  of  no 
account,"  answered  Jimmy. 

"Won't  you  listen  to  reason?"  continued  Hunston. 
"A  child,  if  he'd  look  at  the  facts  fairly,  could  see  that 
I've  had  nothing  to  do  with  it" 

"Look  here,"  said  the  mutineer,  "you  may  jaw  for  a 
month,  but  you  won't  alter  our  opinion.  We've  dropped 
anchor  at  that  idea,  and  we  shall  ride  at  it,  shan't  us,  lads?  " 

There  was  a  noisy  chorus  of  assent. 

"  Now,  you've  done  a  deal  for  your  pals,  and  they 
ought  to  do  summat  for  you,"  persisted  Jimmy. 

"They  won't  do  anything  for  me,"  replied  Hunston, 
"  so  it  is  no  use  your  thinking  of  it." 

"We'll  try  them.  I  want  that  ship.  We're  treed  so 
long  as  we  ain't  got  our  ship,  and  I  don't  know  as  we 
should  do  much  good  by  attacking  of  her  now  she's  well 
looked  arter." 

"  Why  not  ?    You're  four  to  one." 

"Maybe;  but  Ben  Blunt  and  his  friends  are  wide 
awake,  they  are,  not  like  our  two  scoundrels  Bouncer 
and  Geary,  and  the  others,  who  must  have  got  blazing 
drunk,  and  kept  no  watch." 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE,  99 

"  You've  got  two  boats.  Go  and  attack  the  ship.  I'll 
lead  the  attack,"  Hunston  suggested. 

"  No,  thank  you ;  I've  got  a  better  dodge  than  that. 
You'd  go  over  to  the  enemy.  I  know  you.  Wanted  to 
smother  us  all  in  the  cave,  didn't  you  ?  " 

Hunston  groaned  at  the  pig-headed  and  ignorant  ob- 
stinacy of  the  man. 

"No,  my  lads,"  Jimmy  went  on;  "we  won't  attack 
the  ship  to  be  sent  to  the  bottom  by  the  cannon,  not  us. 
We'll  send  a  flag  of  truce,  and  tell  who  ever's  captain 
of  the  '  Sea-horse  '  that  if  the  ship  isn't  given  up  in  twelve 
hours,  we'll  hang  this  Hunston  on  a  tree  in  sight  of  his  pals." 

There  was  a  roar  of  assent  to  this  proposition. 

"Jimmy  can  do  it.  He's  a  born  lawyer  all  over," 
said  one  of  the  mutineers  named  Phillips. 

"Are  we  sailing  on  the  right  tack?"  asked  Jimmy, 
much  pleased  with  the  applause  he  received. 

" That's  right, "  replied  Phillips.  "Let  Hunston  write 
a  bit  of  a  note — we've  got  pencil  and  paper  among  us — 
and  then  two  of  us  will  go  in  the  boat  with  a  flag  of 
truce  and  let'em  think  it  over." 

"It  must  be  put  strong  and  simple  to  them,"  said 
another  mutineer. 

"You  leave  that  to  me,  and  don't  attempt  to  teach 
your  betters,"  exclaimed  Jimmy.  "It's  this  way;  they 
give  up  the  ship  in  twelve  hours,  or  we  put  a  noose 
round  their  friend  Hunston's  neck,  and  hang  him  up  to 
the  nearest  tree. " 

"  But  I'm  not  their  friend,"  said  Hunston. 

"Go  along,  and  tell  that  to  the  marines,"  replied 
Jimmy,  derisively. 

"  We're  enemies.  We  hate  one  another,  and  I've  been 
trying  to  kill  the  whole  of  them  this  ever  so  long.  My 
life  doesn't  matter  a  rush  to  them." 

"  It  won't  do,  governor,"  said  Jimmy.  "We're  able- 
bodied  seamen,  and  it  won't  wash." 

"All  right;  you're  a  parcel  of  fools,  and  must  do  as 
you  like,  I  suppose,"  exclaimed  Hunston,  with  a  sigh  of 
resignation. 

He  saw  it  was  useless  to  talk  to  them. 

They  fancied  he  was  a  traitor  to  them,  and  a  friend  of 
Ben  Blunt  and  Harkaway,  which  was  quite  enough  for 
them. 


100  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

Paper  and  pencil  were  produced,  and  handed  to  Hun- 
ston. 

1 '  Now,  then,  write  for  your  life ;  that's  what  you've 
got  to  do." 

Write  to  Harkaway  to  save  his  life ! 

What  a  strange  turn  events  had  taken  since  Jack  was 
Hunston's  captive  in  Palembang,  and  a  high  gallows  had 
been  erected  especially  for  him. 

Hunston  had  some  spirit  and  pride  left  in  him,  and  he 
hesitated  before  he  put  pencil  to  paper. 

He  felt  it  would  be  no  use. 

It  would  be  an  unnecessary  humiliation. 

Throwing  the  pencil  down,  he  said — 

"  Write  yourselves  !  I'll  be  hanged  if  I  lower  myself 
by  writing  to  Jack,  not  even  to  beg  my  life. " 

The  mutineers  regarded  him  with  astonishment 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

TWELVE    HOURS   ONLY. 

THE  scene  was  a  striking  one. 

Hunston's  arms  had  been  unbound  to  permit  him  to 
write,  and  an  empty  biscuit  cask  had  been  rolled  before 
him,  upon  which  the  sheet  of  rough  paper  was  placed. 

Around  him  were  gathered  the  picturesquely-attired 
mutineers,  with  their  savage  faces  sunburnt  and  swarthy. 

On  one  side  was  a  cave,  situated  at  the  base  of  a  rocky 
ledge,  which  stretched  for  some  distance  along  the  shore. 

Behind  arose  a  vast  forest,  filled  with  all  the  luxuriant 
vegetation  of  the  tropics. 

In  front  a  sandy  plateau  swept  down  to  the  blue, 
curly  waves  of  the  sea,  which,  agitated  by  a  faint  breeze 
swept  in  gently  eddying  circles,  flecked  with  foam. 

"Won't  you  write?"  asked  Jimmy  Clark,  angrily. 

"  No ;  I  have  told  you  I  won't."  replied  Hunston. 

"Perhaps  we  can  find  a  way  of  persuading  you,  my 
bantam  cock." 

"What's  the  good  of  bullying  me?"  Hunston  said. 
"Can't  you  write  yourself?  You  seem  to  have  some 
education. " 

"I  can  write,  and  read,  too,  for  that  matter;  not  that 
either  accomplishment's  of  much  use  to  a  sailor.  But 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  IOI 

give  us  hold  of  the  pencil,  I  don't  want  to  be  nasty,"  said 
Jimmy. 

He  took  up  the  pencil,  and  hastily  wrote — 

"To  Ben  Blunt,  and  those  on  board  the  'Sea-horse' 
with  him. 

"  Look  here,  old  mate,  you've  been  and  gone  and  done 
it,  and  we  ain't  a-going  to  stand  it,  that's  flat. 

"We've  got  your  friend  Hunston — leastaways  he's  a 
friend  of  the  chap  they  calls  Jack  Harkaway,  who's  at 
the  bottom  of  this  fakement. 

' '  Now  this  is  the  size  of  it. 

"If  so  be  as  you  don't  part  with  the  ship  in  twelve 
hours  from  the  time  of  getting  this  writing,  we  shall  string 
up  Hunston. 

"That  means  hanging  of  him. 

"We  give  you  twelve  hours  to  think  it  over. 

"Let  us  have  our  ship,  and  we'll  shake  hands  and  cry 
quits. 

"  Your  lot  shall  have  this  island,  which  we'll  vacu — 
cu " 

' '  I  say,  how  do  you  spell  'vacuate  ?  "  asked  Jimmy. 

Hunston  told  him. 

"There  maybe  a  'e'  at  the  end,"  said  Jimmy;  "I 
don't  say  there  isn't,  but  blow  me  if  there's  one  at  the 
beginning,  and  blame  me  if  I  put  one.  It's  'vacuate, 
ain't  it?  Well,  then,  how  can  you  put  a  'e'  at  the  top. 
Go  on.  It's  foolishness.  You'll  tell  me  next  I  ain't  been 
to  school  at  all. " 

"Put  it  as  you  like,"  replied  Hunston. 

"Which  will  be,  "vacuate  the  island,'"  continued 
Jimmy,  "and  say  no  more  about  it,  though  that  drug- 
ging business  was  a  dirty  bit,  and  no  flies. 

"So  give  up  the  ship,  and  cry  a  go,  or  we'll  hang  this 
this  cur,  Hunston. 

"So  no  more  from  yours  at  present,  and  a  hoping  it 
leaves  you. 

"JiM  CLARK." 

"Will  that  do,  lads  ?  "  said  Jim,  reading  it  out  with  con- 
scious pride. 

The  mutineers  said  it  was  beautiful,  and  evidently 
regarded  the  composition  as  the  highest  style  of  art. 


1 02  JA  CK  HARK  A  WAY'S  AD  VENTURES 

"  Now,  Phillips,  my  man,  you  and  me  will  sail  over  to 
the  old  tub,  and  deliver  this  'ere  letter,"  continued  Jimmy. 

Hunston  was  again  bound,  and  the  mutineers,  after 
seeing  their  companions  start,  began  to  busy  themselves 
in  preparing  their  breakfast. 

In  the  cave  they  found  a  variety  of  articles,  abandoned 
by  Jack  and  his  party,  which  came  in  very  handy. 

Hunston  watched  the  boat  sail  off  with  a  dogged  look. 

He  did  not  expect  any  mercy  from  Jack,  and  thought 
that  the  attempt  to  get  back  the  ship  by  threatening  his 
own  life  would  be  a  failure. 

On  all  occasions  he  had  treated  Harkaway  and  Harvey, 
too,  so  infamously  that  he  fancied  they  would  show 
more  than  Christian  forgiveness  if  they  raised  a  hand  in 
his  defence. 

' '  I'm  a  bad  lot, "  he  muttered.  ' '  I'm  a  thorn  in  their 
side,  and  the  sooner  I'm  dead  and  gone  the  better  for 
them.  What  do  they  care  for  me  ?  " 

The  mutineers  left  him  to  himself,  taking  no  notice  of 
him. 

He  could  not  escape  ;  that  was  all  they  cared  about. 

Hunston  evidently  believed  his  end  was  approaching. 

No  wonder  he  was  sullen  and  silent. 

Meanwhile  the  boat  was  on  its  way  to  the  "Sea- 
horse." 

Jack  saw  it  long  before  it  came  near,  and  seeing  only 
two  men  in  it,  did  not  feel  much  alarmed. 

He  called  Harvey  to  his  side,  and  pointed  it  out. 

"What  shall  we  do  ?  "  he  asked. 

"Oh,  we  needn't  funk,"  replied  Harvey.  "They've 
come  to  remonstrate  with  us,  perhaps." 

A  white  flag  was  run  up  to  the  top  of  the  little  mast, 
and  Jack  cried — 

"  Lay  to  !  " 

The  mutineers  hauled  down  their  sail,  and  hove  to. 

"We're  unarmed,"  cried  Jimmy  Clark,  "and  have 
brought  you  a  letter,  sir." 

"  Come  on  board  then,"  replied  Jack.  "You,  I  mean 
the  other  fellow,  can  stay  in  the  boat. " 

The  mutineer  approached  nearer,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
Jimmy  was  on  deck. 

"  I'm  the  bearer  of  a  letter  sir,"  he  said  ;  "  and  come 
with  a  flag  of  truce,  so  of  course  you  won't  do  anything 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  103 

to  me.     More  by  token  that  we've  got  your  friend  hard 
and  fast." 

"What  friend?" 

"Him  they  call  Hunston." 

"  He's  no  friend  of  ours,  my  good  fellow,"  said  Jack. 
' '  You  never  made  a  greater  mistake  in  your  life. " 

"  I  thought  you  would  say  so,"  exclaimed  Jimmy. 
' '  Howsomever,  read  that  bit  of  writing. " 

Jack  took  the  scrawl,  and  with  difficulty  made  himself 
master  of  its  contents. 

"  Is  this  a  dodge?  "  he  asked. 

"What  do  you  mean,  sir?  "  inquired  Jimmy. 

"Is  this  a  dodge  of  Hunston's  or  are  you  really  going 
to  hang  him  because  you  think  he  has  betrayed  you  and 
is  a  friend  of  ours  ? " 

"Wish  I  may  die,  cappen,"  answered  Jimmy,  "if 
every  word  of  that  letter  isn't  gospel  truth." 

"You  mean  to  hang  Hunston,  if  we  don't  give  up  this 
ship  in  twelve  hours  ?  " 

"That's  it,  sir." 

"And  you  give  me  twelve  hours  to  decide  ? " 

"Not  a  minute  more.  If  we  don't  hear  from  you  then, 
up  he  goes." 

"Very  well,"  said  Jack.  "  I  can't  give  you  an  answer 
off-hand,  but  I'll  think  the  matter  over." 

The  mutineer  inquired  after  his  comrades,  and  declared 
that  he  was  sorry  Geary  and  Bouncer  were  alive  as  they 
deserved  killing  with  the  others,  because  they  had  kept 
such  a  bad  look-out. 

"You  ought  never  to  have  had  this  ship,"  he  said. 

"But  we've  got  it,  my  friend,"  answered  Jack. 

"  I  know  that  Well,  sir,  we'll  expect  your  answer, 
and  if  you'll  give  us  a  glass  of  grog " 

"Not  a  drop.  You're  a  mutinous  dog  and  I'll  have 
nothing  further  to  say  to  you,"  interrupted  Jack. 

"But  sir " 

"Be  off,  or  I'll  help  you,"  said  Jack,  who  was  indignant 
with  the  mutineers,  and  did  not  care  to  take  the  trouble 
to  speak  civilly  to  any  of  them. 

Jimmy  descended  the  side,  and  the  sail  of  the  boat  was 
soon  bellying  to  the  breeze,  as  he  returned  to  his  com- 
panions. 

' '  Dick  !  "  cried  Harkaway. 


104  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"  Here  !  "  replied  Harvey,  who  had  been  standing  at  a 
respectful  distance,  and  had  not  heard  what  passed. 

"Come  below  ;  we  must  hold  a  council  of  war." 

"  All  right.     Lead  on,"  said  Harvey. 

They  went  into  the  captain's  cabin. 

Monday  remained  on  deck  with  Bouncer. 

Ben  Blunt  was  in  a  hammock. 

Geary  had  been  removed,  and  was  trying  to  get  sober, 
while  Mr.  Mole  was  drinking  some  fine  Madeira  he  had 
found  in  a  locker,  and  was  nibbling  a  ship's  biscuit. 

"Ah!  you  have  come  at  last,  Harkaway,"  he  said. 
"That  is  my  lunch.  Have  some  lunch." 

"What  is  it,  sir?" 

"Merely  a  biscuit  and  a  glass  of  wine.  Excellent 
Madeira.  Try  a  glass. " 

Both  Harvey  and  Jack  complied  with  his  request,  and 
had  some  lunch. 

"Comfortable  quarters  these,  Harkaway.  When  do 
we  sail  ? "  asked  Mr.  Mole. 

"Not  for  a  day  or  two,  sir,"  replied  Jack. 

"Ah,  well!  I  leave  all  those  things  to  you.  Of  course 
you'll  put  me  in  the  way  of  getting  to  China.  I  must  see 
after  my  tea-garden." 

"Sell  it,  sir.  We  shall  not  get  much  further  up  the 
China  Sea." 

"I  should  like  to  see  it.  I  must  see  my  tea-garden, 
and  shan't  die  happy  if  I  don't,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole. 

' '  What  are  you  going  to  do  with  your  wives,  sir  ?  "  in- 
quired Harvey. 

"Wives!  ah!  Great  bother  wives;  but  I've  given 
them  the  slip,  eh  !  Shouldn't  mind  Alfura  so  much,  but 
Ambon ia  is — a — what  shall  I  say  ?  " 

"A  teazer,  sir." 

"She's  worse  than  that,  Harvey.  She's  a  millstone 
round  a  man's  neck.  What  a  lovely  corpse  she  would 
make,  to  be  sure. " 

"I'm  ashamed  of  you,  sir,"  said  Jack.  "You  don't 
manage  her  rightly,  but  you'll  have  an  opportunity  of 
making  up  for  your  bad  behaviour,  as  we  are  going  to 
Limbi." 

' '  Going — to— Limbi  1 "    said    Mr.    Mole,    in   horrified 
amazement. 

"Must  go." 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  105 

"What  for?" 

"Haven't  got  our  full  complement  of  hands.  Want 
niggers  to  make  up  the  crew,"  replied  Jack. 

"Let  me  work.  Let  me  do  the  work  of  a  common 
seaman.  I  will  indeed ;  but  don't,  for  the  love  of  Heaven, 
go  to  Limbi." 

"Must,"  said  Jack. 

"Well,  then,  say  I'm  dead.  Tell  them  I  fell  fighting 
bravely  against  the  Pisangs.  Tell  them  anything,  only 
don't  give  me  up  to  the  furies,"  supplicated  Mr.  Mole. 

"We'll  see  what  can  be  done  for  you,  sir, "replied  Jack. 
"By  the  way,  did  you  hear  the  news  Monday  brought 
from  Limbi  ?  " 

"That  my  wives  meant  to  come  after  me? " 

"No,  not  that.  Mrs.  Mole  Number  One  expects  to  be- 
come a  mother." 

"Oh,  Lord  !  "  cried  Mole,  pressing  his  hand  to  his  head. 

"And  Mrs.  Mole  Number  Two  also  has  an  expectation 
of  the  same  sort,  but  isn't  quite  sure." 

"The  Lord  be  good  to  me  !  Two  Little  Isaacs  !  Oh, 
Lord  !  what  shall  I  do  ?  Two  little  Isaac  Moles,  with  a 
prospect  of  more,"  said  the  wretched  man. 

"It's  nice  to  be  a  father,  sir,"  remarked  Harvey. 

"Not  when  they're  niggers;  the  children,  I  mean. 
No,  Harvey,  I  cannot  look  forward  to  such  a  prospect 
with  an  equal  mind." 

"Poor  little  innocents.  What  have  they  done  ?  If  you 
don't  like  kids,  sir " 

"  Harvey,  I  beg  of  you  to  refrain  from  any  indulgence 
in  unseemly  mirth  on  my  account.  I  will  not  put  up 
with  it." 

Harvey  sang — 

"  One  little  Isaac, 
Two  little  Isaacs, 
Three  little  Isaac  Moles. 

You  can  do  it,  sir.     Perhaps  Ambonia  will  have  twins." 
"  Do  you  want  to  drive  me  mad?  "  asked  Mr.  Mole. 
"Shut  up,  Dick  ;  I  want  to  talk  about  business ? "  cried 

Jack. 

"Ah!    business!"   exclaimed   Mr.    Mole,    rubbing  his 

hands,  and  taking  another  glass  of  wine.      "That's  more 

in  my  way.     I  hate  and  abominate  chaff.     What  is  the 

business  may  I  ask  ? " 


106  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  ADVENTURES 

"The  mutineers  fancy  Hunston  has  betrayed  them, 
and  mean  to  hang  him  in  twelve  hours  if  we  don't  give 
up  the  ship,"  replied  Jack. 

Both  Harvey  and  Mr.  Mole  received  this  news  without 
showing  any  signs  of  astonishment  or  regret. 

They  did  not  seem  to  care  whether  Hunston  lived  or 
died. 

Possible  of  the  two  they  would  have  preferred  him 
dead. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

JACK'S  GENEROSITY. 

"  LET  them  hang  him,"  said  Mr.  Mole. 

"So  I  say,"  remarked  Harvey.  "He's  no  good.  It 
will  save  us  the  trouble  of  settling  his  hash  some  day." 

"Give  up  the  ship  and  these  comfortable  quarters,  with 
the  chance  of  getting  to  China  or  home  again  ? "  continued 
Mr.  Mole.  "We're  not  candidates  for  Colney  Hatch 
lunatic  asylum  yet." 

"Nor  Han  well  either,"  replied  Harvey.  "What  do  you 
say,  Jack  ? " 

"  I  don't  see  the  force  of  giving  up  the  ship,"  answered 
Jack,  "and  yet  I  don't  like  to  leave  Hunston  to  his  fate." 

"  Has  he  ever  shown  you  any  kindness  ? "  said  Harvey. 

"Was  he  not  always  your  determined  enemy  at  school, 
and  has  he  not  been  so  since,"  said  Mr.  Mole 

"That  is  true  ;  but  I  shouldn't  like  to  see  an  old  school- 
fellow hanged  before  my  eyes,  as  I  may  say. " 

"The  sentiment  does  more  honour  to  your  heart  than 
head,  Harkaway,"  Mr.  Mole  said.  "If  I  were  you  I 
should  not  trouble  about  the  scoundrel." 

"  But  I  shall,  sir.  You  and  I  are  two  different  people, 
and  I  won't  leave  Hunston  in  the  hands  of  the  mutineers." 

"Dear,  dear,"said  Mr.  Mole.  "This  is  an  unfortunate 
determination  of  yours.  Here  have  we  fought  valiantly 
for  the  ship,  and " 

"I'm  not  going  to  give  up  the  ship." 

"Oh  !  that's  a  different  thing.  What  is  it  you  propose 
to  do,  then  ? "  Mr.  Mole  said,  much  relieved. 


A  FLO  A  T  AND  ASHOKE.  1 07 

"I  shall  go  ashore,  and  have  a  shy  at  the  mutineers. 
By  myself,  if  no  one  has  the  pluck  to  go  with  me." 

"Really  I  must  decline  the  challenge,"  Mr.  Mole  re- 
plied. "The  fatigues  of  this  morning's  battle  have  been 
too  much  for  me.  It  was  mainly  owing  to  me  that  the 
ship  was  captured.  Had  I  not  gone  through  the  porthole, 
and  settled  the  man  down  below,  I  verily  believe  he 
would  have  fired  the  magazine,  and  then  what  would 
have  become  of  you  who  were  struggling  on  deck  ? " 

Jack  looked  at  Harvey,  who  saw  the  glance  and  com- 
prehended it,  but  he  preserved  silence. 

"Won't  you  lend  a  hand,  Dick,  to  save  an  old  school- 
fellow ?  "  urged  Jack. 

"I'll  tell  you  what  it  is,"  replied  Harvey;  "if  it  had 
been  anybody  but  Hunston,  I  would  not  have  hesitated 
a  moment,  but " 

He  paused. 

"Well  Dick?"  said  Jack,  calmly. 

"It  seems  to  me  to  be  folly  to  risk  our  own  lives  to 
save  his. " 

' '  He's  got  friends,  Dick.  He's  got  a  mother  and  father, 
and  brothers  and  sisters.  Won't  they  like  to  see  him 
again,  bad  as  he  is.  Think  of  his  poor  mother,"  said 
Jack. 

"I  wish  you  wouldn't  be  so  eloquent, "replied Harvey. 
"I  shall  have  to  give  in  whether  I  like  it  or  not,  if  you 
go  on  like  that." 

"He's  young,  Dick,  not  above  a  year  or  two  older  than 
we  are,  and  he's  led  a  wicked  life,  and  done — what  :«  it 
we  say  at  church,  Mr.  Mole  ?  " 

"  'Those  things  which  we  ought  not  to  have  done/ 
Harkaway.  Is  that  what  you  mean  ?  " 

"  That's  it,  sir.  Well,  Dick,  he's  got  sins  to  repent,  and 
you  know  he  might  turn  out  a  decent  fellow  after  all." 

"  Don't  walk  into  my  affections  like  that,  Jack,"  said 
Harvey. 

"But  I  must  and  will." 

"What  do  you  want  me  to  do?" 

"To  come  and  save  Hunston." 

"How  ?" 

"  It's  a  time  to  forget  his  faults,"  said  Jack.  "We 
must  put  those  on  one  side. " 

"  I  don't  know  at  present.     We've  got  twelve  hours  to 


1 08  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

do  it  in.  Only  twelve  hours.  Just  one  day.  It  doesn't 
seem  long,  though  it's  time  enough  to  save  a  man's  life 
in." 

Still  Harvey  was  irresolute. 

' '  Would  it  look  well  to  go  home  and  see  Mr.  Craw- 
cour,  and  Collinson,  and  Mr.  Stonor,  and  all  our  own 
friends,  and  tell  them  that  we  left  Hunston  to  be  hanged 
before  our  eyes,  when  we  might  have  raised  a  hand 
to  save  him  ?  Dick,  old  boy,  you're  not  showing  your 
proper  form,  you're  not,  indeed. " 

"You've  licked,  Jack,"  cried  Harvey,  jumping  up.  "I 
didn't  think  anyone  could  have  persuaded  me  to  go  across 
the  street  for  Hunston,  but  you've  done  it." 

"You'll  come?" 

"  Rather.  I'm  with  you,  Jack,  sink  or  swim.  They 
shan't  say  we  left  an  old  schoolfellow  in  the  lurch." 

"  He  had  me  beaten  with  the  bamboos,"  remarked 
Harvey,  "  till  I  thought  my  back  was  being  skinned." 

"And  he  tried  to  hang  me  twice  over.  Never  mind," 
replied  Jack,  "  we'll  show  them  all  that  we've  got  some 
British  pluck  left,  and  we'll  save  him,  or " 

He  paused. 

"Or  what,  my  very  impulsive  young  friend?"  asked 
Mr.  Mole,  with  a  cynical  smile. 

"Turn  up  our  toes,  sir,"  replied  Jack. 

"What  may  that  mean  ?  " 

"Croak,  sir.  Get  ready  for  your  six  feet  of  polished 
elm  or  oak,  if  your  family  can  afford  the  luxury. " 

"You  should  not  joke  about  such  subjects,  Harkaway. 
It  is  wrong.  I  trust  neither  you  nor  Harvey  will  want  a 
coffin  ;  but,  if  you  should,  depend  upon  it,  I  will  do  the 
best  I  can,  taking  into  consideration  the  slender  resources 
of  the  country." 

"  Well,"  said  Jack  ;   "  that's  cool." 

"I  trust  I  am  always  cool  in  the  hour  of  danger,  Hark- 
away,"  replied  Mr.  Mole. 

"Well,  sir,  laughing's  better  than  crying,  and  I  daresay 
we  shall  hit  upon  a  dodge  of  rescuing  Hunston  without 
losing  our  lives." 

"Let  us  hope  so." 

Jack  was  rather  annoyed  with  Mr.  Mole  for  the  selfish 
<vay  in  which  he  spoke,  and,  rising,  beckoned  to  Harvey. 

"Come  on  deck,  Dick,"  he  said. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  109 

*'Are  you  going?"  asked  Mr.  Mole. 

' '  Yes,  we  are  going. " 

"You  leave  me  with  my  friend,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  play- 
fully tapping  the  wine-bottle. 

' '  Take  care  of  it,  sir.  It's  the  only  friend  you've  got, 
and  he  won't  turn  out  a  real  one,"  replied  Jack. 

Directly  he  had  said  this,  he  was  sorry  for  it 

Mr.  Mole  got  up,  and  running  after  Jack,  caught  him 
close  to  the  entrance  to  the  cabin. 

He  looked  hurt,  and  really  felt  hurt,  for  it  was  the  first 
time  either  of  the  boys  had  said  anything  unkind  to  him, 
or  noticed  his  growing  weakness  for  the  bottle. 

"  Harkaway,"  he  exclaimed,  touching  his  shoulder. 

"Well,  sir,  "replied  Jack. 

"You  said  something,  which  I  thought  very  unkind,  a 
moment  ago.  Did  you  mean  it  ?  " 

Jack's  heart  was  in  his  mouth  in  a  moment. 

" No,  sir,  I  didn't,"  he  replied  ;  "and  I'm  very  sorry  I 
said  it.  Will  you  forgive  me  ?  " 

' '  Our  lot, "  said  Mr.  Mole,  ' '  is  cast  in  a  foreign  land, 
and  we  are  in  the  midst  of  danger.  I  may  have  drunk 
too  much,  Harkaway ;  perhaps  I  have " 

"No,  sir " 

"I'm  not  blind  to  my  own  faults,  but  it  cuts  me  to  the 
quick  to  be  ridiculed  by  my  own  pupils,  my  dear  friends, 
for  I  love  you  both  as  my  own  children." 

"I  believe  you  do,  sir,"  replied  Jack. 

"You  must  not  think  I  am  a  silly  old  man,"  continued 
Mr.  Mole.  "Out  here  I  may  indulge  too  much  oc- 
casionally, but  why  shouldn't  I  ?  Look  at  the  surround- 
ing circumstances.  What  are  they  ?  " 

"Niggers and  sea,  sir,"  replied  Harvey. 

"With  occasional  snakes  and  mutineers,"  said  Mr. 
Mole.  "But  seriously,  my  dear  boys,  do  not  say  any- 
thing rude  to  me  again.  I  cannot  bear  it.  Believe  me, 
that  however  foolish  I  may  seem  to  you  occasionally,  I 
do  value  your  good  opinion,  most  highly.  I  do,  indeed. " 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir,  I  didn't  mean  anything.  I 
didn't  want  to  be  cheeky,"  said  Jack. 

"  And  I'll  say  more,  Harkaway,  now  I'm  on  the  sub- 
ject," Mr.  Mole  went  on.  "I  admire  the  courage  you 
have  displayed  under  the  most  trying  circumstances.  It's 
been  a  source  of  pride  and  wonder  to  me." 


110  JACK  HA RKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"Don't  butter  me  too  much,  sir  ;  I  can't  lend  you  half- 
a-crown  if  you  want  it, "  replied  Jack,  smiling. 

' '  No,  no  ;  you  must  not  make  fun  of  what  I  say.  I  do 
my  best,  but  I  cannot  equal  you.  However,  we  are  not 
of  an  age,  and  youth  is  always  ardent." 

"That's  it,  sir,"  exclaimed  Jack.  "  Please  accept  my 
apology  for  hurting  your  feelings.  I  wouldn't  have  done 
it  for  a  fiver.  Will  you  forgive  me  ?  " 

"Forgive  you,  Harkaway  ?     There's  my  hand." 

Jack  took  it,  and  grasped  it  heartily. 

"Now  we're  friends,  sir,"  he  said. 

"Yes,  Harkaway." 

"And  you're  perfectly  satisfied?" 

"Perfectly.  God  bless  you  !  No  one  shall  say  that 
Isaac  Mole  ever  bore  malice,  but  I  wouldn't  lose  the 
esteem  of  you  two  boys  for  anything.  Remember  that, 
and  if  I  do  say  anything  foolish,  try  and  think  well  of  me.' 

"I  assure  you,  Mr.  Mole,"  said  Jack,  "that  we  have  a 
strong  regard  for  you,  and  if  we  leave  you  now  it  is 
because  we  have  business  to  attend  to." 

With  this  assurance  Mr.  Mole  rested  satisfied,  an<J  the 
boys  went  on  deck. 

"Well,  Jack,"  exclaimed  Harvey,  "what's  the  Ifttte 
game  now  ?  " 

"I  don't  know,  I'm  cornered,"  replied  Jack. 

"About  Hunston,  I  mean." 

"I  know  what  you  mean,  well  enough,"  Jack  ex- 
claimed. "  But  how  to  get  him  out  of  the  hands  of  those 
blessed  mutineers  is  more  than  your  humble  servant, 
Jack  Harkaway,  can  tell." 

Harvey  looked  puzzled,  and  they  were  both  silent  for 
some  little  time. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

JACK  DOES  HIS  BEST  FOR  HIS  OLD  ENEMY. 

IT  was  some  time  before  Jack  could  hit  upon  a  plan  for 
being  of  service  to  Hunston. 

That  he  should  not  die  if  he  could  help  it,  he  deter- 
mined. 


AFL OA  T  AND  ASHORE.  \  \  \ 

At  the  same  time  he  was  equally  firmly  resolved  that 
he  would  not  give  up  the  ship  to  the  mutineers. 

As  the  vessel  was  so  short-handed,  he  could  not  take 
any  one  but  Harvey  with  him. 

We  have  already  spoken  of  the  two  small  cannon  they 
had  on  board. 

Looking  at  one  of  these,  Jack  said — 

"  I  think  I  know  how  to  do  it,  Dick." 

'"How?"  asked  Harvey,  "  I've  had  my  thinking-cap 
on  for  a  long  while,  and  can't  hit  upon  any  dodge  which 
comes  within  a  mile  of  the  proper  thing." 

"Suppose  we  put  one  of  these  cannon  on  board  the 
boat,  load  it  up  to  the  muzzle,  take  a  slow  match  with  us, 
sail  in  to  the  shore,  and  when  we  get  within  range  of  the 
mutineers  let  them  have  it  hot  and  strong." 

"That  will  do,  if  they  let  us  get  near  enough,"  said 
Harvey. 

"The  cannon,"  replied  Jack,  "will  carry  farther  than 
their  rifles,  so  that  we  shall  not  be  in  danger." 

"What  if  Hunston  is  in  the  line  of  fire?  " 

"He  isn't  at  present.  I  have  been  looking  through 
the  glass,  and  he  is  tied  to  a  tree  on  the  left.  The  tree, 
perhaps,  to  which  they  mean  to  hang  him." 

"What  are  the  mutineers  doing?" 

"  Just  what  might  have  been  expected,  drinking  and 
gambling.  They  have  one  or  two  packs  of  cards  and 
seem  greatly  excited.  Shall  we  try  the  plan  ?  " 

"If  you  like.  It's  better  than  nothing,"  answered 
Harvey. 

' '  At  once,  or  wait  for  night  ? " 

"Oh,  at  once.     I  hate  waiting,"  said  Harvey. 

"All  right.  Send  Bouncer  aft,  with  Monday.  We  will 
sling  the  gun  into  the  boat,  and  get  ready,"  exclaimed 
Jack. 

It  did  not  take  long  to  put  the  little  gun  in  the  bows. 

They  loaded  it  nearly  up  to  the  muzzle  with  bullets, 
slugs,  and  pieces  of  old  iron. 

With  them  they  took  a  bag  of  similar  ammunition,  so 
as  to  be  ready  for  a  second  discharge. 

Over  the  gun  they  threw  a  bit  of  old  bunting,  to  pre- 
vent the  mutineers  seeing  it  and  having  their  suspicions 
aroused. 

"Is  it  all  ready  ?  " 


112  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  ADVENTURES 

"Aye,  aye,  sir,"  replied  Bouncer. 

"Jump  in,  Dick." 

Harvey  took  his  place  in  the  stern  and  Jack  followed 
him. 

"Going  to  give  them  pepper,  sir?"  said  Bouncer, 
smiling  grimly  as  he  regarded  these  warlike  preparations, 
which  were  intended  for  his  old  comrades. 

"I  think  I'm  justified  in  doing  so,"  replied  Jack. 
"  They  are  murderers,  for  they  killed  the  officers  of  their 
ship,  and  are  consequently  out  of  the  pale  of  the  law." 

"That's  right  enough,  sir." 

"Therefore,"  continued  Jack,  "in  dealing  with  them  I 
need  not  follow  the  rules  of  civilised  warfare.  If  I  can 
shoot  them  like  dogs,  they  deserve  it,  for  they'd  cut  our 
throats  without  the  least  compunction,  if  they  got  the 
chance." 

"So  they  would.  I  can't  say  much  for  them,"  replied 
Bouncer;  "and  I  did  all  I  could  to  stop  the  mutiny, 
though  what  is  one  against  a  dozen  or  more  ?  " 

"Shove  her  off,  Dick,"  said  Jack,  who  had  not  much 
faith  in  Bouncer's  hypocritical  assertions  of  innocence. 

The  boat,  by  dint  of  successive  tacks,  made  for  the 
shore. 

As  they  got  nearer  they  clearly  distinguished  Hunston 
bound  to  a  large  palm-tree  on  the  left  of  the  cave. 

He  looked  very  miserable. 

The  mutineers  were  gambling  and  quarrelling,  but  they 
desisted  when  they  saw  the  boat. 

They  thought  that  Jack  was  coming  to  make  terms 
with  them,  and  did  not  apprehend  an  attack. 

"Lie  down  in  the  bows,  Dick,  and  get  the  match 
ready,"  whispered  Jack. 

Harvey  did  so,  and  Jack  lowered  the  sail  when  they 
were  within  what  he  judged  to  be  a  proper  distance. 

Holding  the  tiller,  he  kept  the  nose  of  the  boat  well  in 
front,  so  that  Harvey  might  point  the  gun  without  any 
difficulty  and  in  such  a  manner  that  it  might  do  good 
execution. 

"Ahoy,  there!  Ahoy,"  exclaimed  Jimmy  Clark,  who 
was  in  the  centre  of  his  companions. 

"  What  cheer  ? "  replied  Jack,  putting  his  hand  to  his 
mouth  to  make  a  speaking-trumpet. 

"Are  you  come  to  give  up  the  ship?  " 


AFL OAT  A ND  ASHORE.  1 1 3 

"Speak  louder  ;  I  can't  hear,"  said  Jack,  pretending  he 
could  not  distinguish  what  was  said. 

"  Do  you  agree  to  our  terms  ?  "  continued  Jimmy. 

Jack  bent  down. 

"Are  you  ready,  Dick?"  he  asked. 

"  Half  a  minute,"  replied  Harvey. 

"They're  all  in  a  heap.  Cover  them  well,  and  fire  as 
soon  as  you  can.  Remember,  all  depends  upon  the  first 
fire.  They  will  scatter  and  shelter  if  we  don't  chaw 
them  up." 

"  I've  got  a  message  for  you,"  said  Jack  aloud. 

"What  is  it?     Let's  have  it,"  replied  the  mutineer. 

"Look  out  then,  it's  coming.  Now,  Dick,"  he  added, 
"  aim  low,  and  shoot  straight." 

The  mutineers,  numbering  a  dozen  or  fourteen,  were 
grouped  together. 

They  were  not  at  all  prepared  for  the  sort  of  message 
Jack  was  going  to  send  them. 

Only  a  few  of  them  thought  it  advisable  to  stand  to 
their  arms. 

Suddenly  a  little  tongue  of  flame  shot  up  in  the  air,  as 
Harvey  applied  the  lighted  match. 

Then  there  was  a  puff  of  smoke  and  a  sullen  roar. 

The  next  moment  terrible  shrieks  rent  the  air,  and 
more  than  half  the  number  of  the  mutineers  fell  to  the 
ground  mortally  wounded. 

The  others  were  so  panic-stricken  that  they  took  to 
their  heels,  and  ran  for  their  lives. 

Jack  hoisted  the  sail,  and  saying,  "Stand  in,"  grasped 
the  tiller  again,  and  sent  the  boat  rolling  towards  the  land. 

Harvey  held  a  loaded  rifle  in  his  hand,  and  was  pre- 
pared to  pick  off  any  of  the  survivors  who  showed  them- 
selves. 

"  Mind  the  boat  as  well  as  you  can,  Dick,  and  cover 
me  while  I  go  ashore,"  exclaimed  Jack. 

"Aye,  aye  !  "  replied  Harvey. 

Setting  his  teeth  firmly  together,  Jack  dashed  into  the 
sea  as  soon  as  the  boat  grounded. 

In  one  hand  he  held  a  pistol,  in  the  other  a  knife. 

His  intention  was  to  cut  Hunston  loose. 

Running  across  the  sand,  he  soon  gained  the  tree,  and 
with  a  few  vigorous  cuts  severed  the  cords  which  bound 
him. 
8 


114  JACK  HARK  A  WAY'S  AD  VENTURES 

Hunston  was  scarcely  able  to  believe  the  evidence  of 
his  senses. 

"How  can  I  thank  you?"  he  said,  with  tears  in  his 
eyes. 

"Say  nothing  about  it,"  replied  Jack. 

"I'd  rather  have  owed  my  life  to  anybody  else,  but 
life  is  sweet,  and  if  I  can  ever  do  you  a  good  turn,  Hark- 
away — . — " 

"Never  mind  that.  Take  this  pistol,  and  cut  it  to 
your  friends  the  Pisangs  as  quick  as  you  can." 

"Won't  you  take  me  on  board  with  you  ? " 

"No;  that's  asking  too  much.     Good-bye,"  said  Jack. 

He  gave  Hunston  a  friendly  nod,  and  ran  back  to  the 
boat. 

At  that  moment  Harvey's  rifle  was  fired  off  with  a 
sharp  crack. 

His  quick  eye  had  seen  one  of  the  escaped  mutineers 
emerge  from  the  cave  where  he  had  taken  refuge. 

He  had  levelled  his  rifle  at  Jack,  but  a  leaden  mes- 
senger of  death  cut  short  his  career  before  he  could  pull 
the  trigger. 

Hunston  was  off  like  a  shot. 

He  disappeared  in  the  jungle,  and  the  boys  knew  he 
was  safe. 

Jack  put  the  boat  about,  and  trembling  with  excitement, 
waited  for  the  wind  to  catch  her  and  send  her  out  to  sea. 

Again  Harvey's  rifle  was  discharged,  and  again  a  muti- 
neer fell  to  the  ground. 

"They  shan't  show  a  head,"  he  exclaimed;  "if  they 
do  I'm  down  on  them  like  a  beaver." 

"  Well  done,  Dick,"  replied  Jack.  "  I  think  we  deserve 
the  Victoria  Cross.  Do  you  know,  I  am  as  pleased  at 
saving  Hunston  as  if  I  had  escaped  myself  from  a  great 
danger. " 

"So  am  I,"  said  Harvey,  adding — 

' '  Look  at  those  fellows.     What  are  they  up  to  ? " 

Jack  looked  towards  the  shore,  and  saw  five  of  the 
mutineers,  who  had  emerged  into  the  open  from  their 
temporary  place  of  concealment. 

They  held  their  arms  over  their  heads,  as  if  to  indicate 
that  they  surrendered  and  were  defenceless. 

"Ahoy  !  "  cried  one,  who  appeared  to  be  the  spokes- 
man. 


AFL OAT  A ND  ASHORE.  1 1 5 

"What  do  you  want  ?  "  inquired  Jack. 

"Take  us  to  the  ship,  sir,"  answered  the  man.  "We 
*re  the  only  ones  left  alive,  and  we  must  starve  on  this 
island." 

' '  Serve  you  right ;  you  should  have  thought  of  that 
before, "  replied  Jack. 

"Have  mercy  upon  us,  sir,"  continued  the  mutineer. 
"We  surrender." 

"  But  you  have  been  guilty  of  mutiny  on  the  high  seas, 
and  are  murderers." 

"  We're  very  sorry.  Take  us  prisoners,  and  convey  us 
to  Singapore  in  irons,  if  you  like,  sir,  to  take  our  trial," 
the  man  went  on. 

Jack  hesitated. 

"The  fellows  seem  sorry  enough,  Dick,"  he  remarked. 
"  They're  regularly  licked.  Shall  we  take  them  on  board  ?  " 

"  We're  very  short  of  men,  and  if  we  pardoned  them 
they  might  turn  out  good  men  and  true,"  answered 
Harvey. 

"All  our  leaders  are  dead,  sir.  We  had  no  hand  in  the 
mutiny.  It  was  Sam  Parsons  and  Jimmy  Clark,"  said 
the  mutineer. 

"Come  down  to  the  beach,  then,"  replied  Jack,  "  and 
stand  there  unarmed.  If  you  try  any  games  on  I'll  pistol 
the  lot  of  you. " 

The  mutineers  did  as  they  were  directed. 

Jack  stood  in  shore  and  allowed  them  to  come  on 
board,  making  them  sit  down  on  the  thwarts. 

He  held  pistols  in  his  hands  in  case  of  any  treachery. 

But  the  poor  fellows  were  so  cowed  that  there  did  not 
seem  to  be  the  smallest  mutinous  spirit  left  in  them. 

"  If  you'll  try  and  look  over  it,  sir,  we'll  work  the  ship 
like  slaves  for  you,"  said  the  leader  :  "  we  will  indeed." 

"I  can't  promise  you  a  pardon,"  answered  Jack.  "It 
depends  in  a  great  measure  on  your  own  conduct.  If 
you  behave  yourselves  I  may  be  inclined  to  say  nothing 
about  the  share  you  took  in  the  mutiny,  though  you  know 
well  enough  what  the  British  consul  would  do  to  you. " 

"We  were  misled,  sir,  and  acted  on  bad  advice.  All 
we  want  is  to  return  to  our  duty,  and  get  back  to 
England.  We're  all — every  one  of  us — married  men,  sir, 
and  have  wives  and  children,  think  of  that  1 " 

"I  can't  say  any  more  than    I   have  said,"  Jack   ex- 


1 16  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  ADVENTURES 

claimed.  "  My  conduct  in  the  matter  will  depend  upon 
your  behaviour,  though  I've  a  good  mind  to  have  you 
lashed  to  a  grating  and  give  you  a  couple  of  dozen  lashes 
apiece." 

"Do  that,  and  welcome,  sir.  We  deserve  it,"  replied 
the  mutineers,  in  a  body. 

They  spoke  humbly  enough,  and  in  the  end  proved 
themselves  very  good  men,  and  were  of  great  use  to  Jack 
in  the  navigation  of  the  ship. 

He  did  ultimately  pardon  them,  and  did  not  have  them 
flogged  as  he  threatened. 

They  were  grateful  for  his  kindness,  and  it  was  clear 
that  after  the  death  of  their  leader  they  were  pleased 
enough  to  return  to  their  duty. 

With  this  accession  of  strength,  he  hove  up  the  anchor 
that  afternoon  and  stood  for  Limbi  to  get  a  few  natives 
to  help  make  up  the  complement  of  his  crew. 

Mr.  Mole  was  loud  in  his  praises  when  he  heard  the 
successful  result  of  Jack's  expedition. 

"A  good  action,  Harkaway,  is  never  thrown  away," 
he  said.  "You  will  sleep  all  the  better  for  it,  and  I'm 
sorry  now  that  I  tried  to  dissuade  you  from  the  enter- 
prise. What  did  Hunston  say  ?  " 

"  We  hadn't  much  time  to  talk,  sir?"  answered  Jack ; 
"the  mutineers  were  popping  away  at  me." 

"  Did  he  appear  thankful  ? " 

"Very  much  so.  He  was  quite  doubled  up  by  his 
feelings.  But  that  wouldn't  last  long.  He  wanted  to 
join  us,  and  be  taken  on  board."  i 

"Which  you,  of  course  refused  ?"  replied  Mr.  Mole. 

"  I  didn't  see  it,  sir.  A  black  sheep  in  the  flock  is  not 
desirable. " 

"You  put  coals  of  fire  on  his  head.  Ah,  well,  it  was 
a  gallant  action,  and  one  you  will  never  regret.  And, 
now,  whither  away,  may  I  ask  ? " 

"  Limbi  is  our  destination,  sir,"  answered  Jack. 

Mr.  Mole  trembled. 

"My  prophetic  soul,"  he  exclaimed,  "warns  me  that 
my  wives  will  seek  to  annoy  me.  What  am  I  to  do  ?  " 

"Do  the  best  you  can,  sir." 

"  Bad  will  be  the  best,  I  am  afraid.  However,"  re- 
plied Mr.  Mole,  with  a  groan,  "I  will  hide  myself,  and 
trust  to  fortune." 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  I J 7 

Early  next  morning  the  "Sea-horse"  was  standing  off 
Limbi. 

They  fired  a  gun  to  give  notice  of  their  arrival  to  the 
inhabitants  of  Tompano. 

An  hour  afterwards  several  boats  put  off  from  the 
shore. 

In  one  was  the  new  king,  Selim,  who  reigned  in  the 
stead  of  Monday's  father,  Lanindyer,  and  with  him  were 
several  of  the  most  prominent  chiefs. 

'Where's  Mole  ?  "  asked  Jack  of  Harvey. 
'  I  don't  know  ;  he  wasn't  at  breakfast.     He's  vanished 
into  the  coal  bunk  or  somewhere,"  replied  Harvey. 
'  Ain't  there  some  women  in  that  last  boat  ?  " 
'  Yes,  I  can  see  two. " 

'  Mole's  wives,   for  money ! "  said  Jack.     ' '  I'll  bet  a 
pound  to  a  pinch  of  snuff  they  are  Mole's  wives." 
"Shouldn't  wonder,"  replied  Harvey. 
In  the  meantime  the  little  fleet  of  boats  drew  nearer. 


CHAPTER  XXIL 

MR.    MOLE   BECOMES   A   BASE   DECEIVER. 


"Hi,  y< 
"Can't 


JUST  as  Ha'xaway  was  speaking  he  saw  Monday  with 
a  sheet  on  his  arm. 

Monday  !  come  here,"  he  said, 
stop,   sare.     Monday  very  busy,"  replied  the 
black. 

"  What  are  you  doing  with  that  sheet?  " 

"  That  one  secret,  sare.  Mist'  Mole  and  me  do  bus 
iness." 

"Oh,  Mole's  in  it,  is  he  ?  What's  the  business  you've 
got  on  ?  "  aske'i  Harvey, 

"  You  not  Ml,  Mast'  Harvey  ?  " 

"Not  I.     Out  with  it." 

"Mist*  Mole,  him  sham  dead." 

"Do  what? "  cried  Jack  and  Harvey  in  a  breath. 

"Sham  dead,  sare,"  replied  Monday.  "Him  much 
'fraid  b',n  wives  come  on  board,  so  he  sham  dead. 
Monday  go  to  lay  him  out  and  put  the  sheet  on  him. 
You  not  say  a  word." 


1 18  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"Where  is  he?" 

"In  the  cabin,  sare.  Him  lie  stretched  out  on  a  table, 
and  if  Ambonia  and  Alfura  come,  I  got  to  say  he  fight 
like  a  warrior  and  get  kill." 

"Oh,  that's  it.  He's  getting  dodgy  in  his  old  age," 
remarked  Jack.  ' '  Well,  cut  along,  Monday.  I  shan't  split. " 

Monday  disappeared  down  the  companion,  and,  turn- 
ing to  Harvey,  Jack  said — 

"  We  must  spoil  old  Mole  somehow." 

"I  should  like  to,"  replied  Harvey.  "Fancy  the 
beggar  going  to  sham  being  dead  !  " 

"  How  can  we  do  it  ?  " 

"His  sorrowing  wives  will  weep  over  him,"  said 
Harvey.  "Can't  we  stick  a  pin  in  his  leg  and  wake 
him  up  ?  " 

"  He's  a  base  deceiver.  A  pin  might  galvanise  him, 
only,  unfortunately,  we  haven't  got  one.  There  isn't 
such  a  thing  to  be  had." 

"  I'll  tell  you  what  we  can  do,"  said  Harvey. 

"What?" 

"  Tell  Ambonia  it's  the  custom  in  our  country,  when 
a  man  dies,  to  pull  out  twelve  hairs  from  each  whisker 
and  twenty-four  hairs  from  the  head. 

Jack  laughed 

"You'll  be  the  death  of  me,  Dick,"  he  said. 

"And  tell  her,"  continued  Harvey,  "that  to  save 
trouble  she  can  pull  the  hairs  out  in  bunches,  and  count 
them  afterwards." 

"What  is  she  to  do  with  them  ? " 

"Oh,  wrap  them  up  in  a  palm  leaf  and  keep  them  as 
relics,"  said  Harvey. 

"That  will  do." 

"We  might  add  that  the  hairs  from  the  head  are  to  be 
pulled  out  behind,  where  it  is  most  tender ;  and  if  Mole 
don't  halloa  out  ten  thousand  murders,  I'm  a  donkey. " 

"All  right,"  said  Jack;  "111  speak  to  her  when  she 
comes." 

The  boats  approached  nearer  and  nearer. 

At  last  they  came  near  enough  for  those  in  them  to 
speak  to  those  on  board  the  vessel. 

They  were  invited  on  board,  and  a  grand  banquet 
got  ready  for  them. 

Ambonia  and  Alfura  were  in  the  last  boat,  which  wns 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  X 1^ 

fifled  with  fruit,  with  which  they  had  intended  to  do  a 
trade  with  the  strangers. 

When  they  heard  that  Jack  and  Harvey  were  the  com- 
manders, they  freely  made  them  a  present  of  their  cargo. 

Their  first  inquiry,  however,  was  after  their  husband. 

"I'm  afraid  he  is  very  ill,  if  not  dead,"  replied  Jack. 

"Dead  I  "  echoed  Alfura  and  Ambonia. 

"Yes,  Monday  is  attending  upon  him,  and  he  will 
tell  you  more  about  it ;  but  will  you  come  into  the  cabin 
and  see  ?  "  replied  Jack. 

Both  the  ladies  set  up  a  most  cruel  yelling,  and  Jack 
put  his  fingers  in  his  ears. 

"Don't  cry  like  that,"  he  replied.  "He  may  be  all 
right,  though  I  fear  the  worst  If  he  is  dead,  he  fell 
fighting  bravely." 

"  Let  me  see  him,"  said  Ambonia* 
Alfura  wept  silently. 

"  It  is  our  custom,"  continued  Jack,  "  for  the  widow 
of  a  chief  to  pull  out  twelve  hairs  from  each  of  the  de- 
ceased's whiskers,  and  twenty-four  hairs  from  the  back 
of  his  head  ;  you  may  pull  them  out  in  a  bunch,  if  you 
like,  and  afterwards  they  are  to  be  kept  in  your  house  to 
remind  you  of  your  husband.  Mind  you  do  this  if  he  is 
dead. " 

"  Call  Matabella,"  said  Ambonia. 

Jack  went  to  the  companion,  and  called  Monday. 

He  came  up,  and  when  he  saw  Mr.  Mole's  wives,  told 
them,  with  a  sorrowful  face,  that  he  was  no  more. 

"  He  fell  fighting,  and  has  since  died  of  his  wounds," 
be  exclaimed. 

"  When  did  he  die?  "  asked  Ambonia. 

"  This  morning.      He  is  scarcely  cold." 

"  Oh,  my  poor  husband  !  He  was  a  great  chief,  and 
bis  chf/A  will  be  fatherless,"  said  Ambonia. 

Monday  did  what  he  could  to  prevent  them  going  below, 
but  the  wives  could  not  be  persuaded  to  stop  on  deck. 

So  Monday  led  the  way  to  the  cabin,  followed  by  Jack 
and  Harvey. 

When  they  entered  the  cabin,  they  found  Mr.  Mole 
stretched  out  on  a  table  covered  with  a  white  sheet 

Their  grief  was  about  to  burst  forth  again,  when  Jack 
whispered — 

"  R^inember  what  I  told  you  about  «*vx  customs." 


1 20  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"  Oh,  yes  !    We  will  do  that,"  replied  Ambonia. 

Removing  the  sheet  from  Mr.  Mole's  face,  she  took  hold 
of  a  bunch  of  whiskers  and  gave  it  a  sharp  pull. 

It  did  not  come  out. 

Then  she  tugged  again,  and  it  yielded. 

Mr.  Mole  gave  the  corner  of  his  mouth  a  short  comical 
ywinge. 

But  he  did  not  cry  out 

"  Take  those  hairs,  and  count  them,  Alfura,"  said  Am- 
oonia.  "  I  will  now  try  the  other  side  of  our  dear  hus 
band's  face." 

Mr.  Mole's  whiskers  were  scanty,  and  there  was  not 
much  hair  left  on  the  right  side. 

He  suffered  the  most  acute  pain,  but  bore  it  like  a  stoic. 

Setting  her  feet  firmly  on  the  floor  of  the  cabin,  Ambonia 
took  another  hand  full  and  pulled  it  vigorously. 

The  hair  came  out  in  a  bunch  like  the  other. 

Something  like  a  stifled  curse  escaped  from  the  unhappy 
sufferer. 

"  Count  them,  Alfura,"  said  Ambonia,  handing  her  the 
second  tuft. 

Alfura  proceeded  to  do  so  in  dolorous  silence,  and  she 
bathed  the  grizzly  hairs  with  her  tears. 

Jack  approached  and  whispered — 

"  Shall  I  hold  up  his  head  for  you?  " 

Ambonia  nodded,  and  went  on  with  her  duty  of  affec- 
tion. 

She  twisted  her  knuckles  firmly  in  the  back  hair  of  the 
supposed  dead  man,  which  was  long  and  tangled. 

There  was  a  wrench. 

Mr.  Mole  could  bear  no  more — the  pain  was  too  great 

He  sprang  up  and  threw  the  sheet  from  him. 

The  resurrection  of  Lazarus  could  not  have  more  sur- 
prised the  beholders  than  this  sudden  coming  to  life. 

Ambonia  and  Alfura  darted  back,  and  looked  at  the  late 
corpse  with  undisguised  terror. 

"  What  the  deuce  do  you  mean  !  "cried Mr.  Mole,  rub- 
bing the  injured  part  savagely. 

"Aren't  you  dead,  sir?  "  asked  Harvey  stifled  with 
laughter. 

"  This  is  your  doing,  Master  Harvey,"  replied  Mole. 
"  I'll  be  one  with  you  ;  and  as  for  those  furies,  I'll  be  the 
death  of  one  or  both  of  them," 


AFL OA  T  AND  ASHORE,  » 2 1 

Jack  and  Harvey  laughed  immoderately. 

The  wives  began  to  regain  their  courage,  and  advanced 
to  their  husband  with  a  boldness  which  they  had  not 
shown  at  first. 

He  certainly  was  not  dead. 

If  so,  he  had  been  playing  them  some  trick. 

Ambonia  grew  angry,  and  her  yellow  face  glowed  with 
passion. 


CHAPTER  XXIIL 

RUNNING    A   MUCK. 

IN  his  anger,  Mr.  Mole  caught  hold  of  Monday  by  the 
ear  and  shook  him. 

"  You've  betrayed  me,"  he  cried,  "  and  I'll  have  it 
out  of  you." 

"No,  sare;  not  me,  sare,"  replied  Monday.  "You 
let  go  um  ear,  sare. " 

"  I'll  give  it  you,  you  black  swab,"  continued  Mr.  Mole. 

Fortunately  for  Monday,  Ambonia  rushed  up  and 
pushed  her  husband  away. 

"  Him  dead  man  just  now,"  remarked  Monday,  grin- 
ning with  pain  ;  adding,  "  Oh,  golly,  how  um  pull  um  ear." 

Mr.  Mole  grasped  a  chair,  and  brandishing  it  in  the  air, 
threatened  to  strike  any  one  who  came  near  him. 

The  women  shrank  back  crying — 

"  Amok  \  amok  !" 

This  is  a  word  of  peculiar  significance  among  all  the 
Malay  tribe. 

If  a  man  is  unhappy  with  his  wife,  unsuccessful  in  busi- 
ness, and  miserable  in  any  manner,  he  does  "  amok." 

That  is  to  say,  he  runs  into  the  street  with  a  knife  and 
stabs  every  one  he  can  meet. 

In  return  for  this  the  inhabitants  raise  the  cry  of  "Amok  !" 
and  run  after  him  with  whatever  weapon  they  can  obtain. 

Eventually  he  is  killed  like  a  mad  dog. 

It  is  the  Malay  mode  of  committing  suicide. 

The  custom  has  become  proverbial  among  Englishmen 
abroad,  under  the  term  of  running  a  muck. 

Even  Monday  got  out  of  the  way,  thinking  Mr.  Mole 
was  going  to  "amok." 


122  JACK  HARK  A  WAY'S  AD  VENTURES 

Jack  advanced  to  Mr.  Mole,  fearing  from  his  wild 
appearance  that  he  would  do  somebody  some  harm. 

"  I  say,  sir  !  "  he  said. 

"  Well,  Harkaway,  what  is  it  ?  Keep  off,  I'm  desperate," 
replied  Mole. 

"  Turn  it  up,  sir." 

"  I  tell  you  I'm  desperate.  I  tried  a  little  plan  of  my 
own,  and  that  black  thief  betrayed  me  ;  may  his  father, 
the  devil,  seize  him." 

"  Are  you  going  off  your  nut,  sir?  "  asked  Jack. 

"  Let  me  get  at  him  !  I'll  pound  him,"  cried  Mr.  Mole, 
making  a  dash  at  Monday. 

"  Amok  1  amok  !  "exclaimed  the  terrified  women,  fully 
believing  that  their  liege  lord  and  master  had  gone  mad, 
and  was  about  to  run  a  muck;  and,  "  Amok!  amok!" 
cried  Monday,  who  also  thought  the  same  thing. 

The  wives  rushed  up  on  deck,  followed  by  Monday. 

"  Amok  !  amok  !  "  rang  through  the  ship. 

The  native  chiefs  heard  the  cry,  and  they,  too,  grew 
alarmed  and  sought  the  deck. 

"  Amok  !  amok  !  "  cried  everybody,  with  as  much  ter- 
ror as  we  in  England  say  "  Mad  dog  !  mad  dog  !  " 

The  chiefs  drew  the  dreaded  creese,  or  curved  knife,  so 
common  among  the  Malay  tribes. 

Every  one  stood  on  the  defensive. 

When  they  saw  it  was  a  white  man  who  was  ' '  amok- 
ing,"  and  that  white  man  was  Mr.  Mole,  the  great  Tuan 
Biza  of  the  whites,  they  forebore  to  strike. 

Jack  ran  on  deck  after  him,  and  exclaimed  in  the  native 
language — 

"  Don't  touch  him  !     He's  all  right." 

"  Am  I  all  right  ?  "  replied  Mr.  Mole,  hitting  King  Selim 
on  the  head  with  his  chair. 

Selim  fell  to  the  deck  stunned. 

"  Dropped  him  like  a  bullock,"  continued  Mr.  Mole, 
with  a  ghastly  grin.  "  Who  is  the  next  gentleman  ?" 

Turning  to  Harvey,  Jack  said, 

"  Mole's  cranky,  and  no  humbug  about  it  !  " 

Madura,  the  old  chief,  came  up  to  remonstrate  with  the 
white  man. 

But  Mr.  Mole  was  ready  for  him. 

"  I'll  floor  you,"  he  said,  "  if  you  come  any  nearer." 

"  Listen  to   the  words   of  wisdom,"   replied   Madura. 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  123 

"  VTou  have  married  our  princesses,  and  you  are  dear  to 
us  as " 

"  Bother  the  words  of  wisdom  !  Take  that !  "  inter- 
rupted Mr.  Mole. 

Madura  fell  by  the  side  of  the  king,  and  the  Limbian 
chiefs  began  to  get  angry. 

Knives  flashed  in  the  sun. 

Again  the  ominous  cry  of  "Amok!  amok!"  rose  on 
the  air. 

Ambonia  and  Alfura  now  made  their  appearance  on 
deck. 

Alfura  fell  fainting  into  Monday's  arms. 

But  Ambonia,  being  made  of  sterner  stuff,  ran  to  her 
husband. 

"  Put  down  that  chair,  and  come  home,  "she  exclaimed. 

"Never  !  "  replied  Mr.  Mole  ;  adding,  "  Mind  your  eye  ! " 

He  made  a  push  at  her  with  a  chair,  and  struck  her  in 
the  mouth  with  one  of  the  wooden  legs. 

Ambonia  began  to  cough  and  choke  and  fell  on  hef 
back  in  strong  convulsions. 

"She's  swallowed  a  tooth,"  said  Jack. 

"Ha,  ha  !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole,  with  a  light  of  insanity 
in  his  eye.  "Who  is  the  next?  Will  you  kindly  keep 
the  ball  rolling?" 

Nobody  seemed  inclined  to  oblige  him,  and  the  knives 
flashed  more  ominously  than  ever  in  the  sunlight. 

The  Limbians  were  waiting  for  him  to  make  a  rush 
down  the  deck,  where  they  were  prepared  to  cut  short 
his  mortal  career  as  quickly  as  possible. 

But  Ambonia  was  a  woman  of  spirit. 

She  was  one  of  those  estimable  women  you  don't 
knock  down  for  nothing. 

It  is  true  she  had  swallowed  a  tooth,  as  Jack  surmised. 

But  what  then  ? 

She  was  for  the  moment  subdued,  not  conquered,  and 
as  soon  as  the  tooth  was  properly  down  and  she  could 
breathe  again  she  was  on  her  feet. 

Advancing  to  Mr.  Mole  with  the  quickness  of  a  cannon- 
ball,  she  grasped  the  chair  which  he  brandished  on  high, 
and  a  desperate  struggle  took  place  between  them. 

"Amok!  amok!"  cried  the  natives,  advancing  threat- 
eningly. 

Wresting  himself  free  from  Ambonia's  grasp,  Mr.  Mole 


J24  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

sprang  on  the  taffrail,  and  throwing  up  his  arms  ex- 
claimed— 

"Thus  do  I  free  myself  from  the  strange  women,  and 
the  house  of  bondage  !  " 

With  that  he  cast  himself  headlong  into  the  sea  and 
disappeared. 

Jack  was  now  fully  assured  that  Mr.  Mole  had  really 
gone  out  of  his  mind  for  a  time. 

"  Man  overboard  1"  cried  Bouncer,  who  was  standing 
near. 

Jack  had  an  idea  that  Mr.  Mole  could  not  swim,  and 
was  determined  to  save  him  at  all  hazards. 

"Lower  a  boat  and  man  her !  "  he  exclaimed. 

"Aye,  aye,  sir!"  replied  Bouncer.  "We  saved  the 
lives  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  men  off  the  coast  of  Africa, 
and " 

"  Hang  your  yarns  !     Obey  orders  !  "  shouted  Jack. 

He  caught  sight  of  Harvey,  who  was  taking  off  his 
Jacket. 

"Toss  you  who  does  it,  Dick  !  "  he  exclaimed. 

"All  right,"  said  Harvey;  "I've  got  a  coin  in  my 
pocket.  First  time.  Man  or  woman  ? " 

He  put  a  small  coin  between  his  hands  and  Jack  said — 

"Man." 

"Man  it  is  ;  over  you  go,"  said  Harvey. 

The  next  moment  Jack  was  diving  like  an  otter  after 
Mr.  Mole. 

He  fortunately  saw  him  as  he  rose  to  the  surface,  and 
grasping  him  by  the  arm  held  him  up. 

In  a  short  time  the  boat  which  had  been  duly  lowered 
under  Harvey's  superintendence  came  up. 

It  took  them  both  on  board. 

Mr.  Mole  was  insensible  and  raved  incoherently,  as  if 
stricken  with  a  fever. 

They  drew  him  on  board,  and  put  him  to  bed  in  what 
they  call  a  sick  bay  or  hospital. 

Ben  Blunt  was  still  an  inmate  of  this  cabin,  but  he  could 
get  about  a  little,  and  readily  undertook  to  nurse  and  look 
after  Mr.  Mole. 

"  I've  seen  many  a  fever,  sir,"  he  remarked,  "and  cured 
'em  too  ;  they're  common  enough  in  these  latitudes.  The 
gentleman  may  be  bad  for  a  few  weeks,  but  it'll  do  him 
good  afterwards. " 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  125 

"He's  very  ill,  Ben,"  replied  Jack. 

"Yes,  sir;  it's  the  mental  excitement  He's  been 
worked  upon." 

"So  he  has,  Ben." 

"And  there's  another  thing,  sir  ;  he's  had  a  good  drop 
to  drink  lately,  as  I  know  of,  and  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  it 
wasn't  no  real  fever  after  all." 

Ben  Blunt  shook  his  head  significantly  as  he  spoke. 

"  No  fever,  Ben  ?  "  said  Jack. 

"No.  sir.  It's  the  delirium  tremblings;  that's  what 
it  is." 

"  Keep  your  eye  on  him,  Ben,  and  say  nothing  to  any- 
body. I  must  go  on  deck,  and  see  to  the  women." 

"Very  well,  sir,"  replied  the  boatswain. 

"This  affair  has  upset  the  banquet  We  were  going  to 
put  on  a  feed  for  the  natives." 

"Lor*  love  you,  sir,  they  can  allers  eat,"  said  Ben  ; 
"and  they'll  be  none  the  worse  for  waiting.  Though  I 
may  say  as  I  did  laugh  that  hearty  as  I  was  fit  to  bust, 
when  I  heard  them  a-crying  '  amok  !  amok  ! '  and  saw  the 
gentleman  floor  them  beautiful." 

Jack  took  leave  of  Ben,  after  exacting  another  assurance 
that  he  would  look  after  his  patient 

Then  he  went  on  deck. 

Harvey  had  kept  the  women  quiet,  and  was  trying  to 
explain  matters  to  the  chiefs. 

The  king  and  Madura  were  not  much  hurt,  and  under 
the  soothing  influence  of  a  glass  or  two  of  good  wine, 
which  was  handed  round  by  Monday,  speedily  regained 
their  good  temper. 

Ambonia  begged  to  be  taken  to  her  husband. 

Jack  was  obliged  to  refuse  this  request,  though  he  told 
told  her  she  might  see  him  later  in  the  day. 

It  was  soon  understood  that  Tuan  Biza  Mole  had  been 
attacked  by  fever. 

"He'll  be  all  right  in  a  short  time,"  said  Jack  to  the  two 
wives  ;  "and  I  know  he  really  loves  you  both,  though  of 
the  two  I  think  he's  rather  more  spoony  on  you,  Ambonia. " 

The  lady's  eyes  flashed  at  this  announcement,  which 
pleased  her  greatly. 

"  He's  always  talking  about  you,"  said  Jack. 

"Will  he  come  on  shore,  and  go  to  live  with  us  at 
Tompano,  when  he  gets  better  ?  "  she  asked. 


126  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  ADVENTURES 

"Of  course  he  will ;  he's  only  too  anxious." 

"Bless  him,"  said  Ambonia,  in  her  own  language,  "I 
could  go  and  kiss  every  bit  of  him." 

It  was  lucky  Mr.  Mole  did  not  hear  this  expression  of 
affection  on  the  part  of  his  biggest  wife,  or  he  might  have 
died  there  and  then. 

Jack  succeeded  in  assuring  her  that  Mr.  Mole  had  in  the 
morning  been  attacked  with  a  faintness  that  Monday 
thought  was  death,  and  that  no  one  had  played  any  trick 
upon  her. 

After  that,  he  gave  her  his  arm,  and  led  her  into  the 
chief  cabin. 

Harvey  took  Alfura  in,  and  the  chiefs  followed  in  order 
of  merit 

The  banquet  consisted  of  all  the  eatables  and  drinkables 
they  could  find  in  the  ship. 

Jack  had  arranged  for  the  pardoned  mutineers  to  wait 
at  table,  which  they  did  with  great  steadiness. 

The  banquet  passed  off  capitally.  All  the  chiefs  en- 
joyed themselves  immensely,  and  some  drank  so  much 
wine  that  they  had  to  be  carried  out  and  put  gently  into 
their  boats. 

Alfura  and  Ambonia  had  a  look  at  Mr.  Mole  before  they 
went  to  shore. 

This  time  they  w:re  satisfied  that  he  was  really  ill, 
and  said  they  would  bring  him  some  fruit  in  the  morning. 

Harvey  gave  Alfura  a  kiss  on  the  sly,  as  he  handed  her 
over  the  ship's  side,  and  she  squeezed  his  hand  in  return. 

Such  are  wives  in  Limbi. 

King  Selim  readily  lent  Jack  half  a  dozen  of  his  subjects 
to  help  work  the  ship. 

It  was  understood  that  they  should  be  sent  back  again 
to  their  native  land,  and  they  were  chosen  by  Monday 
from  among  his  personal  friends. 

So  popular  were  the  white  men,  that  they  could  have 
got  a  hundred  men  if  they  had  wanted  them. 

Instead  of  the  ques'l  n  being  who  should  not  go,  there 
was  a  rush  of  men  of  all  ages  t<  get  the  chance. 

When  all  was  ready  for  sailing,  Jack  went  ashore  to 
return  the  complimentary  visit  of  the  Limbians. 

He  had  also  an  object  in  going. 

Madura  was  an  old  chief  of  great  knowledge  and 
experience. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  127 

He  wished  to  ask  him  some  questions  about  the  City  of 
the  Golden  Towers. 

Who  more  likely  than  the  venerable  Madura  to  give  him 
the  information  he  sought  ? 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 


ON  arriving  at  Tompano,  Jack  sought  Madura  and  ex- 
plained, as  briefly  as  he  could,  the  object  he  had  in  view. 

"  I  want,"  he  said,  "to  recover  this  English  girl,  Emily, 
before  I  return  to  England." 

"  You  say,"  said  Madura,  "that  she  has  gone  with  the 
fugitive  Pisangs  to  the  City  of  the  Golden  Towers?" 

"Yes.     Do  you  know  where  it  is ? " 

' '  I  do.     I  have  been  there, "  replied  Madura. 

"  Have  you  ?  "  cried  Jack,  joyfully.  "That's  your  sort, 
old  man.  That  will  do  ;  tell  us  all  about  it." 

"I  cannot  give  you  much  information,"  replied  Madura  ; 
"  and  for  this  reason " 

Jack's  countenance  fell  again. 

' '  I  was  very  young  when  my  father  and  I  were  out 
fishing,  and  the  pirates  captured  us.  My  father  died  in 
the  City  of  the  Golden  Towers,  and  I  lived  there  some 
years. " 

"  How  did  you  get  back  here  ?  " 

"  I  escaped  with  some  others  in  a  boat,  and  can  only 
dimly  remember  a  great  city,  very  rich,  with  many  ships ; 
and  all  the  people  pirates." 

' '  That  is  a  nice  place  indeed  for  my  poor  little  Emily 
to  be  sent  to,"  said  Jack. 

"Your  Emily  is  young  and  beautiful,"  said  Madura, 
"and  they  will  guard  her  as  carefully  as  they  would  a 
pearl  of  Sirendib." 

"I  hope  so,  I'm  sure.  But  can't  you  tell  us  how  to 
steer  to  get  to  this  wonderful  city  of  pirates?  " 

Madura  shook  his  head. 

"There  is  one  amongst  us  who  can  if  be  will,"  he  said, 
after  a  thoughtful  pause;  "and  that  is  old  Ayoub,  the 


128  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  'S  AD  VENTURES 

Arab.  He  is  a  great  sailor,  and  was  a  pirate  himself  once, 
some  say." 

"Where  is  he  to  be  found?  "  asked  Jack. 

"  He  has  a  house  here  in  Tompano.  You  must  have 
seen  him,  for  he  attends  the  council.  It  is  now  ten  years 
since  he  came  ashore  in  a  boat  and  became  friends  with 
us,  settling  down  and  taking  a  Limbian  woman  to  wife." 

' '  Let  us  go  to  him.     Is  he  very  old  ?  " 

"No.  Though  his  hair  is  tinged  with  grey,  he  is 
younger  than  he  looks,"  replied  Madura 

"Will  he  pilot  us  to  this  city?" 

"  Ask  him.     I  dare  say  he  will." 

They  walked  to  the  house  occupied  by  Ayoub,  the 
Arab,  who  was  sitting  outside,  with  a  little  curly-haired 
child  on  his  knee,  that  was  just  learning  to  call  him 
father. 

Madura,  in  a  few  words,  explained  to  the  venerable- 
looking  man  the  object  which  Jack  had  in  view. 

"  He  has  got  a  good  ship,  plenty  of  men,  arms,  am- 
munition, and  provisions.  All  he  now  wants  is  to  dis- 
cover the  City  of  the  Golden  Towers,  rescue  his  beloved 
Emily,  and  return  to  his  own  land,"  concluded  Madura. 

Ayoub's  eyes  flashed  with  a  keenness  that  showed  he 
could  remember  the  scene  of  his  early  days. 

"Is  it  not  written,"  he  said,  "that  the  bold  man  may 
be  overthrown,  and  the  wise  man  be  confounded,  but  the 
patient  man  overcometh  ? " 

"  I'm  not  in  a  hurry,  governor,"  replied  Jack;  "and 
am  rather  in  favour  of  taking  things  easy." 

"There  are  few  nations  and  countries,  my  son,  that  I 
have  not  seen,"  continued  Ayoub.  "  Most  of  my  country- 
men travel  from  the  Bar-el-Sham  to  the  Bar-el-Gemm" 
(really,  Syria  to  Arabia  Felix),  "and  say  they  have  seen 
the  world,  but  I * 

"I'll  tell  you  what  I'll  do,"  interrupted  Jack,  who  saw 
that  the  Arab  was  a  prosy  old  fellow,  whatever  else  he 
might  be. 

"Speak.  It  is  well  to  listen  ;  so  say  all  the  men  of 
understanding." 

"I'll  give  you  and  your  wife  and  kids  a  free  passage 
to  Arabia,  if  you  will  come  on  board  and  pilot  us  to  this 
city  of  the  pirates. " 

The  old  man's  eyes  sparkled. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  129 

"  You  have  well  said,  O  my  son,"  he  replied  "These 
old  eyes  yearn  to  behold  my  friends  and  relations  once 
more.  I  would  fain  lay  my  bones  with  my  fathers." 

"  Do  you  accept  my  terms  ?  "  said  Jack. 

"Yes,  I  will  go  with  you,"  said  Ayoub.  "When  I 
reached  this  land  in  a  little  boat,  and  all  those  who  had 
sailed  with  me  were  dead  and  gone,  I  was  received  with 
kindness,  which  I  have  endeavoured  to  repay  by  lifting 
my  voice  in  the  council,  but  I  thought  to  die  here.  You 
come  to  me,  young  man,  like  pleasant  water  to  the  travel- 
ler in  the  desert,  and  behold,  I  find  your  speech  good." 

"Pack  up  your  traps,"  exclaimed  Jack,  "as  soon  as 
you  like.  Say  good-bye,  and  don't  take  more  luggage 
than  is  absolutely  necessary.  By  the  way,  is  the  missis 
agreeable  ?  " 

"  My  wife  obeyeth  me  in  all  things,"  replied  the  Arab. 
"  For  is  it  not  written  that  '  a  virtuous  woman  is  a  crown 
to  her  husband  ? ' " 

' '  You  are  sure  that  you  can  pilot  us  to  the  City  of  the 
Golden  Towers,"  continued  Jack. 

An  expression  of  lofty  scorn  sat  on  the  old  man's  face. 

"The  dreams  of  the  young,"  he  said,  "are  stronger 
than  the  realities  of  the  old  ;  but  for  many  years  I  have 
steered  the  ships  of  the  pirates  in  these  China  seas.  So 
that  they  are  become  familiar  to  me  as  a  well-trodden 
pathway." 

"  How  many  days  will  it  take  us  to  get  there?  " 

"  When  one  moon  shall  have  come  and  gone,  then  shall 
we  behold  the  Towers  of  the  Golden  City,"  replied 
Ayoub. 

"That  means  a  month,"  replied  Jack.  "Time  enough 
too." 

He  returned  to  the  ship,  however,  much  pleased  at  hav- 
ing obtained  a  guide  to  the  mysterious  city. 

The  next  day  the  ship  sailed. 

Ayoub  took  the  post  of  pilot,  and  directed  the  vessel's 
course. 

In  a  short  time  both  Mr.  Mole  and  Ben  Blunt  were  well 
enough  to  get  about  again. 

Mole's  wives  had  been  assured  that  their  husband  would 
return  to  them  in  a  month  or  two. 

They  were  desirous  of  accompanying  him  on  the  voyage, 
but  this  Jack  could  not  permit 
9 


130  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

Each  hung  a  charm  round  his  neck,  to  guard  him  from 
evil  spirits. 

Alfura's  charm  was  a  dried  tree-toad  and  Ambonia's  the 
tail  of  a  snake  also  dried. 

Whether  they  were  efficacious  or  not,  the  fever  left  him 
in  a  few  days,  and  he  went  about  as  usual. 

As  far  as  Jack  could  make  out,  Ayoub  caused  the  ship 
to  skirt  the  Malay  peninsula,  going  towards  Cape  Pentani. 

Everyone  was  well  on  board,  and  in  high  spirits. 

Harvey  did  not  like  Ayoub. 

He  communicated  his  suspicions  to  Jack,  who  laughed 
at  his  fears. 

"The  old  fellow  talks  to  himself,  and  smiles  when  no 
one  is  looking,  as  he  thinks,  at  him,"  said  Harvey. 

"He's  all  right  enough,"  replied  Jack,  carelessly. 

"I  don't  know  so  much  about  that,"  continued  Harvey. 
"  We  are  going  amongst  Malay  pirates." 

"Well?" 

"Well,"  said  Harvey,  "  they  are  a  daring  and  blood- 
thirsty race.  This  Ayoub  has  been  amongst  them." 

"What  then?" 

"He  may  intend  to  betray  us.  I  don't  say  he  will, 
still  we  should  keep  an  eye  on  him,"  said  Harvey. 

This  conversation  produced  a  great  impression  on  Jack. 

He  watched  Ayoub  narrowly,  but  did  not  for  some  time 
discover  anything  that  would  lend  confirmation  to  the 
Ritsnicions  Harvey's  remarks  had  excited  in  his  mind. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 
H.  M.  s.  "VICTOR." 

AYOUB,  the  pilot,  seemed  a  harmless,  inoffensive  man, 
and  Jack  could  see  no  just  ground  for  the  suspicions  in 
which  Harvey  indulged. 

He  had  undertaken  to  guide  him  to  the  City  of  the 
Golden  Towers,  and  he  appeared  to  be  keeping  his  word 
to  the  best  of  his  ability. 

How  Jack  longed  to  reach  that  mysterious  nest  of  the 
Malay  pirates,  that  hidden  stronghold,  where  the  defeated 
Pisangs  had  gone,  and  where  Emily  was  a  prisoner. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHOKE. 


'3* 


A  slight  incident  occurred  which  tended  to  give  some 
confirmation  to  Harvey's  injurious  remarks  about  Ayoub. 

After  they  had  been  some  days  out,  they  sighted  a  large 
ship. 

Ben  Blunt  was  standing  by  Jack's  side,  and  before  a 
glass  was  brought  to  bear  upon  her,  Ben  said — 

"  I'm  a  Dutchman,  sir,  if  that's  not  a  man-of-war." 

' '  Yankee  ?  "  asked  Jack. 

"No;  she's  not  a  Yankee  either.  That's  one  of  Her 
Britannic  Majesty's  cruisers.  I  ought  to  know  the  shape 
of  'em  if  any  one  does,  seeing  I  served  aboard  one  for  so 
many  years. " 

"  What's  she  doing  out  here,  Ben  ?  " 

"  After  the  pirates,  maybe  ;  or  going  from  one  station 
to  another.  Lor,  sir,  England's  such  a  great  power  by  land 
and  sea  that  she's  got  ships  and  armies,  leastways  regi- 
ments, pretty  nigh  everywhere." 

"  Cut  down  below,  Ben,  and  see  that  the  cabin  is  all 
straight  and  shipshape,"  exclaimed  Jack. 

' '  Aye,  aye,  sir. " 

"If  I've  got  to  receive  on  board  my  ship  one  of  the 
captains  in  the  Royal  Navy,  I  should  not  like  him  to  go 
away  with  the  impression  that  we  are  a  set  of  lubbers. 
You  know  how  to  do  it,  and  how  things  ought  to  be,  Ben  ?  " 

"  Do  you  think  I'm  a  sucking  porpoise,  sir?"  said  Ben, 
in  a  tone  of  indignation. 

He  went  below  to  execute  his  orders,  and  the  two  ships 
gradually  neared  each  other. 

It  soon  became  clear  enough  that  Ben's  sharp  eyes  had 
not  deceived  him. 

The  approaching  vessel  was  a  man-of-war,  and  the 
mutineers  whom  Jack  had  taken  on  board  getting  wind  of 
it,  came  aft. 

"  I  ax  your  pardon,  Captain  Harkaway,"  said  the  fore- 
most, "  but  here's  one  of  the  Queen's  ships." 

' '  What  of  that  ? "  replied  Jack. 

"  We've  tried  to  do  our  duty,  sir,  and  we're  only  poor 
fellows  who  were  misled  by  others.  You're  not  going 
to  send  us  to  Singapore,  to  be  punished  for  the  mutiny  ? 
Give  us  your  word,  sir,  that's  all,  or  we'd  rather  jump 
overboard. " 

"  Go  forward,  and  do  your  duty,"  answered  Jack, 
"  I  shan't  be  hard  on  you." 


132  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"  But,  sir " 

"  Do  you  hear  when  you  are  spoken  to  ?  "  cried  Jack, 
in  the  commanding  tone  he  could  assume  when  he  liked. 
"Be  off." 

The  men  touched  their  hats  and  went  forward,  much 
comforted  by  the  way  in  which  Jack  spoke  to  them, 
although  they  were  not  quite  relieved  from  a  fear  of  the 
consequences  of  their  actions. 

The  man-of-war  fired  a  gun  as  a  signal  that  the  "  Sea- 
horse "  was  to  lay  to,  which  she  did. 

Then  a  boat  was  lowered  and  manned,  pulling  towards 
the  merchantman. 

Mr.  Mole,  who,  like  Ben  Blunt,  had  recovered  from  his 
illness,  heard  the  news  and  came  on  deck. 

"  Ah  !  "  he  exclaimed,  "  a  ship,  I  perceive,  Harkaway, 
a  big  ship.  They  tell  me  an  H.  M.  S. ,  which  I  presume 
you  are  aware  is  short  for  her  majesty's  service.  They 
have  lowered  a  boat.  They  propel  it  in  man-of-war  fash- 
ion through  the  waves  and  they  near  us  perceptibly. " 

"  They'll  board  us  directly,  sir,"  exclaimed  Jack. 

"And  why  so  ?  Is  not  our  ship  private  property,  and 
why  should  they  board  us  ? " 

"  Nothing  unfriendly  about  it,  sir.  There's  opium- 
smuggling  going  on,  and  pirates  are  about  in  these  seas. 
They  only  want  to  see  our  papers,  and  know  who  we  are." 

"Ah,  I  apprehend  I  may  be  of  service  to  you,"  said 
Mr.  Mole.  "  My  age,  my  manner,  my  position  as  a 
land-owner  in  China,  will  give  me  weight  with  our  visitors. 
They  will  treat  me  with  more  deference  than  they  would 
bestow  upon  a  mere  boy. " 

"  Mere  boy  as  you  call  me,"  said  Jack,  biting  his  lips 
with  annoyance,  "  I  think  I  can  manage  my  affairs  better 
than  any  one  can  manage  them  for  me." 

"  Listen  to  reason,  Harkaway,  I " 

"  Mr.  Mole,"  interrupted  Jack,  "  without  wishing  to  be 
in  the  least  degree  in  the  world  discourteous  to  you,  I 
must  tell  you,  once  for  all,  that  you  are  only  a  passenger 
on  board  this  ship,  and  the  sooner  you  recognise  the  fact 
the  better  it  will  be  for  all  parties. " 

"  Oh  !  as  you  please,  as  you  please,"  replied  Mr.  Mole, 
shrugging  his  shoulders.  "  If  you  reject  my  well-meant 
offer  of  assistance,  I  can  only  regret  your  utter  want  of 
appreciation." 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  133 

He  walked  away  along  the  deck  in  high  dudgeon. 

In  a  short  time  the  boat  ran  alongside,  and  an  officer 
came  on  board. 

He  looked  round  him  and  stared,  when  Jack  said — 

"  I  am  the  captain  of  this  ship,  sir ;  anything  you  have 
to  say  I  shall  be  happy  to  hear." 

"  You  !  "  repeated  the  officer,  who  was  a  naval  lieuten- 
ant about  forty  years  of  age,  dressed  in  uniform,  and  who, 
from  want  of  interest,  had  not  been  able  to  attain  a  higher 
rank. 

"  I  have  already  had  the  honour  to  inform  you  that  I 
am  the  captain  of  this  vessel,  and  if  you  doubt  my  word 
I  will  give  you  satisfactory  proof  of  the  truth  of  what  I 
say." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon.  You  are  so  young  that  I  trust 
you  will  forgive  my  momentary  hesitation,"  said  the 
officer. 

"  And  who  may  I  be  talking  to  ?  "  asked  Jack. 

"  I  am  Lieutenant  Skeffington,  of  H.  M.  S.  '  Victor/ 
Commander  Dacres,  cruising  in  the  China  Sea  in  search 
of  pirates,  who  have  done  a  vast  amount  of  mischief  lately 
amongst  the  English  and  other  merchantmen." 

"Will  you  follow  me  into  my  cabin?  We  can  talk 
more  at  our  ease  there,"  continued  Jack. 

The  lieutenant  bowed,  and  Jack,  preceded  by  Ben  Blunt, 
Conducted  his  visitor  into  the  cabin. 

Directly  Lieutenant  Skeffington  was  seated  and  saw 
Ben,  he  said — 

"  I  have  seen  you  before,  my  man." 

"  Your  honour's  right,"  replied  Ben.  "  I  was  bo'sun 
on  board  the  '  Rattlesnake, '  Captain  Howard,  nigh  upon 
two  years  ago,  and  your  honour  was  second  luff. 

"  I  remember  you  taking  your  discharge  when  we  were 
paid  off.  I  consider  your  presence  on  board  this  ship 
as  a  guarantee  of  the  respectability  of  its  captain,"  said 
Lieutenant  Skeffington. 

Ben  bowed  and  scraped  in  true  sailor  fashion  in  recog- 
nition of  the  compliment,  and  retired  outside  the  door, 
waiting  within  call. 

Jack,  in  as  few  words  as  possible,  explained  to  the 
lieutenant  how  he  came  to  be  in  his  present  position,  and 
why  he  was  going  to  the  pirates'  stronghold. 

"  You  have  had  some  strange  adventures,  Mr.   Hark- 


134  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

away,"  said  the  lieutenant.  "  Wrecked,  cast  on  a  desert 
island,  nearly  killed  by  savage  head-hunters — you  are 
quite  a  hero  of  romance,  and  will  be  the  lion  of  the  London 
drawing-rooms  on  your  return  to  your  own  country." 

"  I  have  no  wish  to  be  a  lion,"  replied  Jack,  laughing. 

"  Those  who  go  down  to  the  sea  in  ships,  become 
acquainted  with  strange  perils.  However,  I  hope  you 
will  find,  and  rescue  this  young  lady  in  whom  you  take 
such  :i  laudable  interest.  We  too  are  in  search  of  this  City 
of  the  Golden  Towers. " 

**  Do  you  know  its  position  ?  " 

"  We  do  not,  though  we  are  told  it  is  somewhere  near 
here,  on  the  coast  of  the  Malay  Peninsula.  Has  not  the 
pilot,  Ayoub,  of  whom  you  speak,  told  you  where  it  is 
situated  ?  " 

"  No,  he  is  very  reserved.  He  says  he  will  take  me  to 
the  city,  but  he  is  not  at  all  inclined  to  be  communicative," 
said  Jack. 

"  It  is  our  intention  to  burn  all  the  ships  we  can  find, 
and  then  blow  the  town  about  the  ears  of  the  pirates. 
We  might  sail  in  consort. " 

"  With  pleasure.  The  '  Victor  '  would  be  an  agreeable 
companion." 

"  Do  you  mind  sending  for  this  Ayoub  ?  I  will  put  some 
questions  to  him." 

"  Certainly." 

Jack  called  Ben  and  despatched  him  for  the  pilot,  with 
whom  he  presently  returned. 

The  venerable  Arab  looked  suspiciously  at  Lieutenant 
Skeffington,  and  asked  what  his  pleasure  was  with  him. 

"  What  is  the  position  of  the  pirates'  stronghold,  and 
how  are  we  to  steer  to  it  ?  "  said  the  lieutenant. 

Ayoub's  face  assumed  a  sullen  demeanour. 

"  I  am  not  at  liberty  to  make  any  disclosures,"  he  an- 
swered. 

"And  why  not? " 

"Because  you  would  go  there  in  an  unfriendly  spirit. 
Those  Malays,  pirates  though  they  be,  were  once  my 
friends." 

"  That  is  as  much  as  admitting  that  you  were  a  pirate 
yourself. " 

Ayoub  turned  pale  under  his  dusky  skin. 

"No,"  he  said,  "you  do  not  speak  the  words  of  truth. 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  135 

I  was  not  one  of  them,  though  they  saved  my  life,  and 
my  lot  was  cast  among  them  for  many  months." 

' '  You  have  undertaken  to  conduct  Captain  Harkaway 
to  the  city  ?  " 

"I  have,  but  he  means  no  harm." 

"What  is  to  prevent  us  from  following  in  your  wake, 
and  stringing  you  up  to  the  yard-arm  if  you  play  us  false," 
asked  the  lieutenant,  fixing  his  clear  grey  eyes  searchingly 
upon  him. 

"  My  poor  life  is  of  little  value,  and  if  an  English  officer 
thought  fit  to  hang  the  poor  Arab,  he  would  be  welcome 
to  do  so  ;  yet  would  Ayoub,  if  he  saw  the  British  man-of- 
war  following  this  merchantman,  run  her  upon  a  rock, 
so  that  all  should  perish." 

"The  villanous  old  scoundrel  !"  muttered  Skeffington, 
adding  aloud,  "you  would  destroy  the  ship  and  all  on 
board  of  her  ?  " 

"As  surely  as  the  water-logged  and  dismantled  vessel, 
when  caught  by  a  swift  current,  rushes  swiftly  to  her 
doom,  so  would  Ayoub  steer  the  '  Sea-horse '  to  the  waters 
of  death." 

"But  reflect,  Ayoub,"  said  Jack,  "those  pirates  are 
bloodthirsty  villains  ;  they  murder  people  and  sink  ships  ; 
they  are  the  robbers  of  the  sea  ;  do  they  not  deserve 
death  ? " 

' '  Ayoub  has  spoken. " 

"I  am  very  much  displeased  with  you.  Return  to 
your  duty,"  exclaimed  Jack,  angrily. 

The  old  man  salaamed,  and  retired. 

"He  would  be  as  good  as  his  word,  too,"  said  the 
lieutenant.  "Can  you  do  without  him ?  " 

"Impossible.  There  is  no  one  on  board  who  knows 
where  this  mysterious  city  is  but  Ayoub,  and  I  might 
wander  up  and  down  a  dangerous  coast,  of  which  I  have 
no  chart,  for  months  and  never  find  it." 

"I  have  heard  that  it  is  placed  some  miles  up  the 
mouth  of  a  river.  However,  if  you  must  have  Ayoub's 
services,  we  can  not  keep  your  company,  that  is  evident." 

"  It  is  my  loss." 

'  |  You  are  very  good  to  say  so, "  answered  the  lieutenant, 
politely.  "  I  will  make  a  favourable  report  of  you  to  my 
captain,  and  I  hope  we  shall  not  be  long  in  finding  out 
the  town. " 


136  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"  I  hope  so,  too." 

"  I  have  a  word  of  advice  to  give  you.  Beware  of  that 
old  man." 

"Why  ?     He  is  honest  enough,"  said  Jack. 

"I  don't  think  so,"  answered  the  lieutenant,  shaking 
his  head  gravely.  "  He  has  a  bad  face.  His  eyes  are 
full  of  deceit,  and  I  fear  he  means  to  betray  you." 

"  He  will  be  clever  if  he  does." 

"  His  refusal  to  allow  us  to  accompany  you  tells  against 
him,  but  if  you  should  be  given  up  to  the  pirates-^ " 

"  By  Ayoub?  " 

"Yes." 

"We  would  fight  to  the  last  man,  first,"  said  Jack. 

"Aye,  aye,  that  is  all  very  well,  but  you  can't  fight 
against  treachery.  Should  you  be  a  prisoner,  will  your 
friends,  when  we  come  to  the  city,  and  commence  shell- 
ing it — for  all  things  are  possible — hoist  a  white  flag  over 
the  house  in  which  you  are  ?  and  I  will  direct  our  gunners 
to  spare  that  particular  building." 

Jack  smiled  incredulously. 

"I  hope,  Lieutenant  Skeffington,"  he  replied,  "that 
you  are  taking  too  gloomy  a  view  of  what  may  happen. " 

"  I  hope  so,  too.  Promise  me,  nevertheless,  that  you 
will  remember  my  undertaking." 

"Certainly  I  will,  and  I  thank  you  very  much  for  the 
kindness  you  have  shown  in  thinking  so  far  ahead  of  the 
chances  of  war. " 

"And  now  farewell,"  said  Skeffington. 

"Can  I  offer  you  any  refreshment  ? " 

"Thanks,  none  at  present.  Is  there  anything  we  can 
send  you  ?  Medical  stores,  or  things  of  that  sort. " 

Jack  declined  the  offer. 

The  lieutenant  rose,  and  shook  'lim  heartily  by  the 
hand. 

"  I  am  very  pleased  to  have  madv  your  acquaintance, 
Mr.  Harkaway,"  he  said  ;  "  you  have  displayed  great  tact 
and  courage  under  very  trying  circumstances  and  you  are 
an  honour  to  the  merchant  service  ;  I  feel  that  the  royal 
navy  has  suffered  a  heavy  loss  in  not  having  you  as  one 
of  its  sons. " 

Jack  uttered  his  thanks  at  this  praise,  and  conducted 
the  lieutenant  to  the  side  of  the  vessel. 

As  he  was  getting  into  his  boat,  he  said — 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  137 

"Once  more,  keep  an  eye  on  that  villanous  Arab." 

"  Never  fear,"  replied  Jack. 

In  less  than  a  minute  the  oars  fell  into  the  water,  and 
the  measured  sound  of  their  rise  and  fall  in  the  rowlocks 
fell  upon  the  ear  with  that  regularity  which  only  a  man- 
of-war's  crew  can  produce. 

"Now,  my  lads,"  said  Jack,  "give  them  a  cheer. 
Don't  be  afraid  of  it.  Three  times  three,  and  let  it  be  a 
rouser. " 

Instantly  the  members  of  the  crew,  who  had  congre- 
gated on  deck,  gave  a  tremenduous  cheer  in  true  British 
fashion. 

The  man-of-war's  men  acknowledged  the  compliment 
by  raising  their  oars,  and  standing  them  upright  in  a  row 
in  the  centre  of  the  boat 

Then  they  fell  with  a  splash,  and  the  launch  returned  to 
H.  M.  S.  "Victor,"  which  looked  the  picture  of  beauty 
as  she  rode  proudly  on  the  rippling  waves. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

THE    CASTAWAY. 

JACK  was  rather  alarmed  at  the  confirmation  which 
Harvey's  suspicions  had  received. 

It  was  strange  that  Ayoub  should  show  such  a  decided 
disinclination  to  have  the  "Victor"  for  a  consort. 

And  yet,  on  consideration,  Jack  made  excuses  for  his 
desire  to  save  from  fire  and  sword  these  amongst  whom 
he  had  lived,  and  who  had  been  kind  to  him. 

However,  he  was  sincere  in  his  determination  to  find 
Emily,  and  nothing  would  have  induced  him  to  turn  out 
of  his  course. 

Harvey  was  anxious  to  know  what  had  passed  between 
him  and  the  officer  of  the  British  vessel. 

Jack  repeated  their  conversation. 

"What  did  I  tell  you?"  said  Harvey.  "I  knew  that 
Arab  was  a  bad  lot. " 

"  He  won't  do  us  any  harm,"  replied  Jack. 

"I  don't  feel  so  sure  about  that.  You  are  too  easy- 
going. " 


1 38  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y 'S  AD  VENTURES 

"My  dear  Dick,  if  one  was  always  to  fancy  danger 
ahead,  one  would  be  worried  into  the  grave.  Time 
enough  to  face  it  when  the  peril  comes,"  answered  Jack. 

"If  I  saw  any  indication  of  foul  play  I'd  shoot  him 
through  the  head,  as  a  warning  toothers." 

"So  I  will.  He  shall  have  a  bullet  through  his  head 
in  double  quick  time,"  Jack  said. 

The  man-of-war  set  her  sails,  and  was  soon  lost  to 
sight  in  the  distance. 

About  midday  the  lookout  reported  an  object  in  sight. 

"Where  away  ?  "  asked  Jack. 

"Abaft  the  beam,"  was  the  reply. 

Jack  gave  orders  to  bear  down  upon  it,  and  in  about  an 
hour,  a  small  boat  was  clearly  made  out 

Whether  there  was  anyone  in  it  or  not  could  not  be 
distinguished. 

But  as  the  "Sea-horse"  got  nearer,  the  body  of  a 
human  being  was  discovered  lying  down  between  the 
thwarts,  apparently  in  the  last  stage  of  exhaustion. 

Lowering  a  boat,  Jack  had  the  castaway  brought  on 
board. 

He  was  laid  on  the  deck,  and  seemed  to  be  only  just 
alive,  if  the  spark  of  life  wasn't  already  extinguished. 

As  Jack's  eyes  fell  on  his  face,  he  uttered  a  cry  of 
amazement. 

"  Dick,"  he  exclaimed,  "  come  here." 

Harvey  was  by  his  side  in  a  moment. 

"What  is  it?"  he  asked. 

"  Don't  you  see?  " 

"See  what?" 

"The  fellow's  face.     It  is  Hunston." 

"Bless  my  soul!  so  it  is;  but  how  altered,"  replied 
Harvey.  "He  is  pinched  with  hunger.  Case  of  starv- 
ation. Poor  beggar ! " 

"Poor  beggar,  indeed,"  said  Jack,  visibly  annoyed. 
"I  almost  wish  we  hadn't  seen  him,  and  that  the  man- 
of-war  had  picked  him  up  instead." 

"You  can't  abandon  him  now." 

"  I  don't  mean  to.  But  it  looks  as  if  he  had  done  it 
on  purpose." 

Harvey  could  not  help  smiling  at  this  view  of  the  case. 

"  Have  him  put  in  a  bunk,"  he  said,  "  and  attended  to. 
Ben  !  Where's  Ben  Blunt  ?  " 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  139 

"  Present,  sir,"  replied  Ben,  coming  up. 

"Here  is  a  man  you  have  seen  before.  He  was  the 
friend  and  companion  of  your  mutineers.  Mr.  Harkaway 
saved  his  life  if  you  remember." 

' '  They  say  a  bad  penny  is  sure  to  turn  up,  sir, "  re- 
marked Ben. 

"  Have  him  taken  below,  please, "returned  Jack,  "and 
pour  some  soup  down  his  throat ;  he  is  in  the  last  stage 
of  exhaustion.  Do  what  you  can  for  him,"  Ben. 

"Aye,  aye,  sir,"  answered  the  boatswain. 

Hunston,  pale,  emaciated,  scarcely  breathing,  was 
attended  to  with  a  care  peculiar  to  sailors  when  cases  of 
distress  are  brought  before  their  notice. 

Monday  brought  a  report  a  couple  of  hours  later, 
that  the  sick  man  was  progressing  favourably. 

"I  '.im  eat  um  soup,  sare,"  he  replied,  "  and  him  wink 
at  it  with  um  eyes." 

"  Is  that  a  good  sign,  Monday  ?  "  asked  Harvey. 

"  Always  um  good  sign,  sare,  when  um  wink  um  eye," 
replied  Monday. 

"All  right.  Keep  near  him.  He  shan't  say  we  are 
behind  the  age  in  civilisation  ;  we  are  not  barbarians,  and 
know  how  to  behave  ourselves  even  when  an  enemy 
comes  amongst  us." 

"We've  got  two  of  them  now,  Dick,"  observed  Jack. 

"Two?  ' 

"  Yes  ;  Hunston  if  he  lives — and  Ayoub,  that  is,  if 
your  suspicions  are  well  founded." 

Mr.  Mole  now  came  on  deck  with  a  book  in  his  hand. 

He  had  found  a  box  of  books  in  the  captain's  cabin, 
and  he  passed  the  principal  part  of  his  time  lolling  on  a 
couch  near  an  open  port-hole,  smoking  some  good  cigars, 
which  he  had  also  found  and  "requisitioned,"  and  drink- 
ing brandy  and  water,  which  he  called  brandy  pawnee. 

"Fine  thing,  brandy  pawnee,"  hesaid.  "Stuff  all  Indian 
gentlemen  drink  ;  that  is  to  say,  all  gentlemen — all  English 
gentlemen — in  India  drink ;  for  we  can't  call  the  native 
Mahomedans,  Hindoos,  and  what  not  gentlemen." 

"  Well,  sir,  what's  the  time  of  day  ?  "  said  Jack. 

"You  know  very  well,  Harkaway,"  answered  Mr. 
Mole,  "  that  when  I  was  in  captivity  among  the  Pisangs, 
the  wretched  Hunston  stole  my  watch." 

"Just  like  him,  sir.     He'd  steal  another  if  you'd  got  it." 


140  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"No,  he  wouldn't,  my  lad,"  replied  Mr.  Mole,  with  a 
knowing  look ;  "  Hunston  is  vegetating  on  his  island." 

"  What  will  you  bet  about  that,  sir?     said  Jack. 

"Bet?  I'd  bet  my — my  tea-garden  in  China.  It's  a 
man-of-war  to  a  fishing  smack,  or  Homer  to  a  boy's  first 
Greek  exercise." 

' '  I'll  take  you,  sir.  If  Hunston  is  now  on  board  this 
ship,  and  I  convince  you  of  the  fact,  your  tea-garden 
becomes  mine  ? " 

"Certainly,"  replied  Mr.  Mole,  puzzled. 

"  Monday  !  "  said  Jack. 

"Coming,  sare,"  replied  Monday,  who  was  in  the 
centre  of  a  group  of  sailors,  whom  he  was  entertaining 
with  an  account  of  Hunston 's  villany. 

"  Isn't  Hunston  on  board  the  '  Sea-horse'  ?  " 

"For  sartin,  Mast'  Jack;  wuss  luck,  too.  No  good 
come  to  ship  while  villain  Hunston  on  board  of  him," 
said  Monday. 

"Don't  call  names,  Monday,"  replied  Harvey. 

"Is  this  a  joke,  Harkaway?"  said  Mr.  Mole.  "If  so, 
it  is  a  very  bad  one,  and  I  will  cudgel  this  black  fellow 
for  joining  in  it." 

Monday  grinned. 

"Candidly,  sir,  it  is  no  joke.  We  picked  Hunston  up 
this  morning  lying  in  an  exhausted  condition  in  a  boat" 

"All  by  himself?" 

"Quite  alone,"  replied  Jack. 

"Where  is  he  now  ? " 

"Monday  will  show  you." 

"Come,  my  coloured  friend,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  "I  must 
behold  him  with  my  own  eyes  ;  seeing  is  believing.  No 
offence  to  you,  Harkaway.  Lead  on,  Monday." 

"  Did  you  ever  see  a  whale,  Dick  ? "  asked  Jack. 

Harvey  put  his  tongue  in  his  cheek,  and  Mr.  Mole, 
turning  sharply  round,  said — 

"  Harkaway,  it  is  too  bad  of  you  to  make  fun  of  my 
poor  attempt  at  a  song.  I  will  never  oblige  you  again 
in  a  similar  manner. "  ^ 

"Don't  say  that,  sir,"  replied  Jack,  as  he  moved  away.  * 
"Mole's  awfully  touchy  about  his  song,"  he   added  to 
Harvey. 

"Yes,  he  knows  it's  a  bad  one,  and  he  would  not  have 
sung  at  all,  if  he  had  not  been  made,  so  he  gets  needled." 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  1 41 

Presently  Mr.  Mole  came  back. 

' '  Have  you  seen  him,  sir  ?  "  asked  Jack. 

"  Yes,  but  what  a  wreck  !  " 

"Are  you  satisfied?  " 

"  I  am  not/' replied  Mr.  Mole  emphatically.  "I  look 
upon  Hunston's  presence  in  this  ship  as  a  fertile  source 
of  disaster.  How  do  you  suppose  he  came  into  that 
boat  ? " 

"  That's  what  the  father  asked  about  his  son  in  Moliere's 
comedy — '  How  the  deuce  did  he  get  into  the  boat?'" 
replied  Jack. 

"I  think  I  can  make  a  guess,"  cried  Harvey.  "He 
must  have  started  with  some  Pisangs,  for  the  City  of  the 
Golden  Towers,  a  storm  came  on " 

"Or  they  had  a  free  fight,"  put  in  Jack. 

"That's  probable  at  all  events.  The  remainder  of  the 
crew  were  washed  or  thrown  overboard,  Hunston  re- 
mained alone,  and  couldn't  manage  the  boat  by  himself. 
Starvation  ensued,  as  he  lost  his  way  on  the  pathless 
ocean." 

"  Don't  become  poetical,  Dick,"  exclaimed  Jack. 

•'Why  shouldn't  I,  if  I  choose?  You  show  me  a  road 
on  the  sea,  and  I'll  never  apply  the  epithet  pathless  to  it 
again." 

"Have  a  care,  Harkaway,  how  you  warm  a  viper  in 
your  bosom,"  said  Mr.  Mole. 

"I  am  not  in  the  habit,  sir,  of  imparting  artificial  heat 
to  vermin  of  that  description,"  replied  Jack 

"  Nonsense  !     You  know  what  I  mean." 

"I  beg  your  pardon,  sir,  I  do  not." 

"Then,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  "you  are  more  obtuse  than  I 
gave  you  credit  for  being — I  spoke  figuratively.  Mind 
that,  if  you  are  kind  to  Hunston,  he  does  not,  as  he  has 
done  before,  turn  round  upon  you." 

"I'll  keep  my  weather  eye  open,  sir.  But  you  would 
not  have  had  me  turn  the  poor  beast  adrift  in  the  state  in 
which  we  found  him,"  said  Jack. 

"Well,  no  ;  on  consideration,  decidedly  no.  There  is 
something  which  beats  under  the  fifth  rib.  Harkaway, 
which  counsels  a  more  humane  course." 

"The heart?"  said  Jack 

"  Precisely ;  you  have  guessed  rightly.  We  have 
hearts,  we  must  be  human.  We  are  Christians,  and 


142  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

must  play  the  part  of  the  good  Samaritan.  Will  any  of 
you  boys  come  into  the  cabin  and  partake  of  pawnee  ?  " 

"  Don't  mind  if  I  do  so.     Been  reading,"  said  Jack. 

"Yes,  just  a  little  go  in  at  the  higher  mathematics, 
Harkaway.  Having  the  advantage  of  books,  one  must 
keep  one's  hand  in,"  replied  Mr.  Mole. 

Harvey  and  Jack  followed  him  into  the  cabin,  to  have 
some  brandy  pawnee,  and  Harvey  whispered — 

"The  old  humbug.  Do  you  know  what  he  has  been 
reading?  It's  not  mathematics  at  all.  I  looked  at  the 
book  while  he  had  it  under  his  arm." 

"What  was  it,  then?" 

"A  French  novel,"  answered  Harvey  laughing. 

It  must  be  confessed  that  Mr.  Mole  was  a  bit  of  a 
humbug. 


CHAPTER  XXVIL 

THE    STORM. 

THE  boys  stayed  in  the  cabin  with  Mr.  Mole  until  that 
gentleman  became  very  good-tempered,  and  was  more 
highly  pleased  than  ever  with  his  brandy  pawnee. 

Feeling  an  increased  motion  of  the  ship,  Jack  said  the 
wind  was  rising. 

' '  Let  it  rise,"  replied  Mr.  Mole  grandly.  "  I  trust  we  are 
superior  to  changes  of  the  weather.  In  my  young  days, 
I  knew  the  time  when  I  was  very  glad  to  raise  the  wind." 

"  Uncle,  sir?"  said  Harvey. 

"  Precisely  so,  but  not  for  luxuries  or  superfluities.  If 
I  spent  money,  it  was  on  my  studies.  Books,  Harvey, 
were  what  I  bought.  I  could  live  on  a  crust  of  bread  and 
a  draught  of  water  for  a  week. " 

"  You've  changed  a  good  bit  since  then,  sir.  Haven't 
you  ?  "  said  Jack. 

"Now,  my  dear  boy,  I  am  in  the  noontide  of  life,  I 
have  a  tea-garden  in  China.  Circumstances  alter  cases," 
replied  Mr.  Mole. 

"  If  we  get  any  rough  weather  I  hope  we  shan't  come 
to  grief,"  Jack  remarked. 

"  Ah,"  faaid  Mr.  Mole,  "  that's  the  worst  of  putting  boys 
in  men's  places." 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE. 


'43 


"What,  sir?" 

"It's  the  case  of  the  square  peg  in  the  round  hole, 
Harka  way. " 

"  Am  I  a  square  peg  ?  "  asked  Jack. 

"Very  square,  and  to  use  a  vulgar  expression,  you  may 
find  yourself  in  a  hole.  You  should  have  made  good  use 
of  your  time  and  have  learnt  navigation." 

"I  know  a  little — enough  for  everyday  use,  sir,  "Jack 
said. 

"  It's  my  opinion  there  is  only  one  man  on  board  this 
ship  who  knows  how  to  work  it,  '  Mr.  Mole  continued. 

"Who's  he  ?  "  said  Harvey. 

"Myself,  Harvey.     Isaac  Mole,  your  humble  servant. " 

Jack  laughed. 

"Do  not  laugh,  my  young,  but  still  intelligent  friend," 
Mr.  Mole  exclaimed;  "it  is  not  becoming  to  laugh  at 
those  older  than  yourself.  I  have  an  observant  eye.  ' 

"  Did  you  ever  see  a  whale,  sir?" 

"That  question  shows  a  want  of  respect,  and  I  shall 
devote  my  conversation  to  Harvey,"  answered  Mr.  Mole 
in  high  dudgeon. 

"Certainly,  sir,"  Harvey  said.  "Curious  creatures, 
whales,  ain't  they  ?  " 

"If  you  indulge  also  in  the  puerile  amusement  called 
chaff,  I  shall  retire  into  myself,  smoke  the  cigar  of  peace, 
and  hold  my  peace,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  mixing  himself  an- 
other pawnee. 

Monday  entered  the  cabin. 

"Good-morning,  Monday,"  said  Mr.  Mole  forgetting 
that  he  had  seen  him  before  that  day. 

"It's  not  morning,  Monday,  now,  sir,"  remarked 
Jack. 

"Eh?" 

"It's  Monday  afternoon,  sir,"  said  Jack  perpetrating  a 
joke,  and  adding — 

"What  is  it,  Mon?" 

"  Urn  Ben  Blunt  want  Mast'  Jack.  The  weather,  him 
getting  very  bad,  sare." 

"Hang  me  if  I  didn't  think  so,  "  replied  Jack,  rising 
with  an  uneasy  expression  of  face. 

"It's  all  Mast' Hunston,  sare;  him  like  um  Mother 
Carey's  chicken.  When  him  come  on  board,  all  go 
wrong,"  exclaimed  Monday. 


1 44  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"I  am  not  superstitious  enough  to  believe  that,  though 
I  don't  like  the  look  of  things  at  all." 

Suddenly  the  ship  gave  a  lurch. 

She  was  struck  by  a  heavy  squall,  and  had  heeled  a 
little  on  the  left  side. 

The  men  were  all  at  their  stations,  and  touching  his  hat, 
Ben  reported  to  Jack,  as  he  hurried  on  deck,  that  the  fore- 
sail was  split. 

"Bend  another,"  replied  Jack. 

The  crew  set  to  work,  unbent  the  split  foresail  and  bent 
another. 

For  some  hours  the  weather  got  worse. 

They  experienced  a  succession  of  heavy  squalls,  and 
shipped  water. 

At  four  o'clock  a  heavy  sea  burst  into  the  main  deck, 
sweeping  water  casks  and  loose  gear  overboard. 

"  Go  forward,  Dick,  and  ask  Ben  to  ascertain  if  the 
cargo  has  shifted,"  said  Jack. 

Harvey  returned  with  Ben,  who  said  he  thought  the 
first  tier  had  shifted  a  little,  but  not  to  an  extent  of  any 
consequence. 

"  What's  the  damage  ?  "  asked  Jack. 

"  It's  carried  away  the  mainsheet,"  replied  Ben,  "and 
the  peak  halyards." 

"Anything  else?  " 

' '  Monday  reports  that  the  cabin  windows  are  smashed 
in." 

" Man  the  pumps," exclaimed  Jack,  "and  at  the  same 
time  secure  cargo  and  repair  damages. " 

' '  Aye,  aye,  sir, "  replied  Ben,  who  liked  to  be  com- 
manded in  this  navy  fashion. 

If  Jack  had  lost  his  head  and  said,  "What  are  we  to 
do  ?  "  perhaps  the  old  boatswain  would  have  lost  his  too, 
and  the  men  would  have  followed  suit. 

Example  is  everything  to  men  in  a  subordinate  position. 

The  majority  of  men  can  obey,  but  they  can't  order. 

Jack  was  as  cool  as  a  melon,  and  went  about  every- 
where, encouraging  the  men  with  his  presence. 

At  nine  o'clock  the  pumps  had  hove  out  a  quantity  of 
water  mixed  with  tea  which  had  got  loose  in  the  hold. 

There  was  a  high  cross  sea. 

Jack  stowed  foresail  and  jib,  set  close-reefed  mainsail 
and  hove  the  ship  to,  with  her  head  northwest. 


AFLOAT  A ND  ASHORE.  1 45 

The  night  passed  without  any  change. 

Mr.  Mole  was  nowhere  to  be  seen,  though  Monday 
hinted  he  was  on  his  back,  snoring  loudly,  under  the 
mingled  influence  of  fear  and  brandy  pawnee. 

In  the  morning  the  sea  raged  with  dreadful  fury. 

Jack  had  not  closed  his  eyes  all  night. 

Ayoub  still  kept  the  helm,  and  stated  that  the  coast  was 
at  times  very  stormy,  and  he  knew  they  were  not  far  from 
their  destination. 

"How  many  days'  sail  are  we  from  the  City  of  the 
Golden  Towers  ?  "  asked  Jack. 

"Two,  sahib,"  replied  the  Arab. 

"Only  two?" 

"  If  we  run  before  this  wind,  we  shall  make  the  land 
sooner,  but  we  have  to  run  some  miles  up  a  river,"  con- 
tinued Ayoub. 

"Then,"  thought  Jack,  "Lieutenant  Skeffington  was 
right  in  his  suspicions.  This  remarkable  city  does  lie  up 
a  river,  and  there  is  more  chance  of  H.  M.  S.  '  Victor ' 
finding  it  out  than  I  first  thought  there  was." 

While  he  was  talking  to  Ayoub  a  sea  swept  the 
bowsprit  from  the  bollards  and  the  foremast  from  the 
deck. 

"  Hullo !  God  help  us,"  ejaculated  Jack,  who  remem- 
bered his  first  wreck. 

Another  sea  followed,  and  the  mainmast  snapped  like 
a  reed,  three  feet  above  the  deck. 

One  man  was  hurt  badly,  and  the  cargo  shifted. 

The  ship  tossed,  and  swayed  her  spars  with  great 
violence. 

Ben  Blunt  hastened  to  the  helm. 

He  pushed  Ayoub  on  one  side  saying — 

"  What's  the  blundering  old  ass  about  ?  He's  no  better 
than  a  woman  at  the  wheel  in  a  gale  of  wind." 

"  Wear  her,  Blunt,  wear  her,"  cried  Jack. 

"Aye,  aye,  sir,"  replied  the  veteran. 

Ayoub  looked  on  with  the  passivity  of  an  oriental. 

"Steady,  Blunt,  for  your  life,  steady,"  continued  Jack. 
"  She'll  bilge  and  founder  else. " 

"Aye,  aye,  sir,"  replied  Ben,  again,  as  the  wheel  flew 
round  under  his  practised  hands. 

It  was  a  great  risk,  but  the  ship  answered  to  the  helm, 
and  she  was  brought  to  windward. 
10 


1 46  JA  CK  HARK  A  WAY'S  AD  VENTURES 

Jack  now  ordered  the  crew  to  cut  away  abaft,  holding 
on  forward. 

In  a  short  time  she  floated  clear,  but  the  once  beautiful 
"Sea-horse"  was  a  perfect  wreck. 

The  storm  was  now  at  its  height 

In  a  short  time  it  began  visibly  to  decline,  and  the  im- 
mediate danger  was  over. 

But  Jack's  heart  grew  sad  when  he  thought  of  the  irre- 
parable damage  that  was  done  to  the  lovely  ship  he  had 
hoped  to  reach  England  in,  but  which  would  now  be 
useless. 

Ben  reported  the  rudder-head  disabled,  and  the  wheel 
broken. 

She  was  drifting  at  the  mercy  of  the  waves  towards  an 
unknown  coast,  the  only  inhabitants  of  which  were  a 
nest  oi  pirates. 

With  difficulty  the  rudder  was  wedged,  and  damages 
again  repaired  in  the  best  manner  under  the  circumstances. 

Finding  the  port  anchor  stock  to  be  the  best  elevation, 
Jack  had  a  globular  light  placed  upon  it,  during  the  night. 

Then  the  wind  went  down  and  the  gale  abated,  but  not 
before  it  had  swept  away  the  storm  drag,  leaving  the 
vessel  a  helpless  wreck. 

A  small  spar  was  stood  by  the  stump  of  the  mainmast, 
and  secured  as  well  as  possible. 

This  formed  a  jury  mast. 

Two  oars  were  clinched  together  for  a  yard  and  bent  to 
a  piece  of  canvas. 

This  set  a  sail,  leg-of-mutton  fashion. 

With  this  curiously-rigged  mast,  and  a  signal  of  distress 
flying,  the  ' '  Sea-horse  "  drifted  for  two  days. 

Mr.  Mole  obstinately  refused  to  move,  and  the  boys 
took  all  the  responsibility  upon  themselves. 

Ben  Blunt,  who  was  an  old  sailor,  gave  Jack  great 
credit  for  the  way  in  which  he  had  handled  the  ship. 

"  Under  Providence,  sir,"  he  said,  "  you've  saved  this 
vessel,  young  as  you  are.  I'm  an  old  salt,  and  I  know 
how  things  should  be,  though  I  couldn't  have  done  as  you 
did,  and  I  doubt  whether  many  a  first  luff  in  her  majesty's 
service  could  have  done  better." 

"I  did  my  best,  Ben,"  Jack  answered. 

"  And  a  good  '  best '  it  was,  sir.  We've  saved  our  lives 
and  we  may  hope  to  make  a  port  somewhere." 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  1 47 

Jack  and  Ben  Blunt  were  standing  alone,  Harvey  was 
with  Mr.  Mole  in  the  cabin,  for  Mr.  Mole  had  not  been  at 
all  well. 

Either  the  brandy  pawnee  or  the  storm  had  not  agreed 
with  him. 

In  Jack's  face  could  be  discovered  a  trace  of  sadness 
and  disappointment. 

Jack  had  got  to  love  the  old  ship. 

She  was  to  have  borne  him  and  Emily  back  to  England, 
when  he  had  rescued  her  from  the  pirates  to  whom  the 
Pisangs  had  taken  her. 

How  had  his  prospects  altered  in  a  few  days  ! 

The  trimly-built  "Sea-horse"  was  floating  like  a  help- 
less log  upon  the  water. 

He  did  not  think  that  his  life  or  those  of  his  companions 
were  in  danger. 

There  was  a  chance  of  making  land,  which  Ayoub  de- 
tlared  solemnly  could  not  be  far  off. 

All  at  once  a  pale,  thin,  skeleton  figure  crept  up  the 
main  hatch. 

It  walked  with  difficulty,  and,  as  it  neared  Jack,  the 
latter  exclaimed — 

"Hunston  !  *' 

He  had  not  gone  near  him  or  spoken  to  him  while  he 
vas  recovering  from  his  privations,  though  he  had 
.teused  every  attention  to  be  paid  him,  so  that  he  wanted 
for  nothing. 

"  Harkaway,"  Hunston  said,  in  a  hollow  voice,  "  I  am 
better  now,  and  I  have  come  to  thank  you  for  caring  for 
me  as  you  did." 

"  Don't  say  anything  about  that,"  exclaimed  Jack. 

"But  I  must.  I  have  heard  from  Harvey  how  you 
picked  me  up  and  took  me  in." 

"Glad  of  it,"  said  Jack. 

"No,  you  are  not  glad.  I  know  you  would  much 
rather  you  had  not  met  me,  but  you  are  a  kind-hearted  Eng- 
lish fellow,  and  behaved  as  you  thought  you  ought  to." 

"You  might  do  as  much  for  me  some  day,"  suggested 
Jack. 

"  Wrong  again,"  replied  Hunston.  "  If  I  had  seen  you 
adrift  in  a  boat,  I  should  not  have  stirred  a  finger  to  save 
you. " 

"You  speak  plainly,  anyhow." 


148  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  ADVENTURES 

"I  do,  and  I  say  what  I  mean.  You  have  the  advan- 
tage over  me  in  generosity  and  good-nature,  if  that  is  any 
gratification  to  you." 

' '  Yes  ;  it  is.  I'd  rather  be  thought  a  decent  fellow  than 
a  brute,"  replied  Jack. 

"  I  don't  care  what  people  think  of  me.  I've  got  over 
that  weakness  long  ago." 

"  More's  the  pity." 

"Perhaps,  but  if  a  man's  hardened  he  can't  be  worried 
by  scruples  of  conscience.  I  have  just  been  snatched 
from  the  brink  of  the  grave.  I  was  at  my  last  gasp." 

"Yes." 

"And  I  don't  thank  you  for  saving  me,"  replied  Hun- 
ston,  whose  malicious  eyes  twinkled  with  malignity  as  he 
spoke. 

"  I  don't  want  you  to,"  replied  Jack. 

"The  fact  is,  Harkaway,  I'm  not  a  humbug,  I  never 
was.  You  can't  accuse  me  of  being  a  sham.  I  was 
always  straightforward. " 

"  I  can't  say  that.  You've  done  a  lot  of  dirty  things," 
answered  Jack.  "  But  you  are  ill  and  weak,  and  I  would 
rather  not  argue  with  you  while  you  are  in  that  state. " 

"That  be  bothered.  I  should  show  the  same  spirit  if  I 
were  dying,"  Hunston  said.  "Talk  to  me,  or  put  me  in 
my  boat  and  cast  me  adrift  once  more." 

Jack  gazed  at  him  with  astonishment. 

"  Put  me  in  the  boat.  I'm  in  your  power,"  continued 
Hunston. 

"No  ;  I  won't  do  that." 

"Listen,  then.  I'm  your  enemy  still,  though  I  thank 
you  for  saving  me.  That's  candid,  isn't  it?" 

"Very  much  so,"  said  Jack.  "But  look  here,  old 
fellow,  if  we  can't  be  friends,  the  world  is  wide  enough 
for  both  of  us.  I'll  take  care  of  you,  and  put  you  ashore 
wherever  you  like." 

"You  haven't  much  choice,"  said  Hunston,  with  a 
sneer.  "Your  ship  isn't  the  vessel  it  was  when  you 
stole  it. " 

' '  Stole  it !  "  repeated  Jack  indignantly. 

"Yes." 

"  I  only  took  it  from  the  mutineers,  and  intend  to 
return  it  to  the  owners." 

"Oh,  of  course;  your  intentions  are  highly  virtuous," 


AFL OA  T  AND  ASHORE.  1 49 

said  Hunston.  "  But  while  I  am  on  board,  am  I  to  con- 
sider myself  a  prisoner?  " 

4 '  No  ;  you  can  do  what  you  like. " 

44  Then  I  shan't  trouble  you  any  more  ;  and  as  soon  as 
I  can  get  away,  I  shall." 

As  he  finished  speaking,  Hunston  walked  away  and 
amused  himself  by  talking  to  Ayoub,  who  was  again  at 
the  wheel. 

Something  he  said  seemed  to  excite  the  Arab's  attention, 
as  they  were  soon  engaged  in  earnest  conversation. 

44  He's  a  beast,"  said  Jack,  half  aloud. 

"  Who's  a  beast  ?  "  exclaimed  a  voice  at  his  elbow. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

JACK    KEEPS   HIS    EYE   ON    AYOUR 

IT  was  Harvey  who  spoke. 

44  Who's  the  beast  ? "  repeated  Jack.  44  Why,  Hunston. 
He's  not  a  bit  thankful  for  being  saved.  I  thought  he 
would  be.  When  I  rescued  him  from  the  mutineers,  he 
did  say,  '  thank  you. ' " 

4 'Then,"  replied  Harvey,  "  the  fear  of  death  was  present 
to  his  mind.  Now  the  case  is  different.  He  knows  very 
well  he's  right,  and  can  afford  to  be  cheeky. " 

44  What's  he  saying  to  Ayoub,    I  wonder?  "  asked  Jack. 

4 'There  is  some  villany  on,  I'll  bet." 

44  Lieutenant  Skeffington  warned  me  against  Ayoub, 
and  told  me  to  keep  my  eye  on  him." 

4 'Do  it,  then.     It's  my  advice  too,"  said  Harvey. 

"I  wish  I  could  hear  what  they  are  saying." 

44  So  do  I." 

44  Can't  you  fox  them  in  some  way?  "  said  Jack. 

44  Not  now,"  replied  Harvey.  "  They  would  see  me  and 
stop  talking.  I'll  tell  you  how  to  manage  it,  though." 

"How?" 

44  I'll  go  up  and  stand  close  to  Ayoub,  ask  him  some 
questions  and  so  on.  Hunston  will  go  away,  and  they'll 
meet  again  later,  when  we  can  watch." 

"  Good  again,  Dick  ;  I  always  said  you  were  a  genius, " 
said  Jack. 


150  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

Harvey  went  up  to  the  wheel,  and,  as  he  had  expected, 
Hunston  walked  away,  going  down  to  his  berth,  from 
which  he  did  not  emerge  till  the  evening. 

It  was  with  difficulty  that  Ayoub  could,  with  the  badly- 
broken  rudder,  keep  the  ship  before  the  wind. 

But  he  contrived  to  steer  somehow,  and  ere  nightfall 
land  was  discovered. 

Great  were  the  rejoicings  of  the  crew,  more  especially 
when  the  mouth  of  the  river  was  seen,  and  Ayoub 
declared  that  it  was  the  very  one  they  were  in  search 
of. 

"In  four-and-twenty  hours,  crippled  as  we  are,"  said 
the  pilot,  "  we  shall  be  anchored  near  the  City  of  the 
Golden  Towers." 

There  was  no  further  danger  from  the  elements,  for  the 
storm  had  altogether  subsided. 

Harvey,  who  was  worn  out,  went  to  his  berth  and  slept 
soundly. 

Jack,  however,  was  watching  Hunston. 

Darkness  had  fallen  and  all  was  still,  when  he  heard 
Hunston  leave  the  cabin  in  which  he  was  berthed,  and  go 
on  deck. 

He  followed. 

Ayoub  was  standing  amidships,  looking  at  the  crescent 
moon,  just  rising  in  the  heavens. 

"Is  it  you,  my  son?"  he  exclaimed,  as  Hunston 
touched  him  on  the  shoulder. 

"  Did  I  not  say  I  would  meet  you  when  the  moon  rose 
at  this  spot? "  replied  Hunston. 

"You  did." 

"You  hate  these  white  men,  and  so  do  I;  as  far  as 
that  we  agreed  this  morning.  We  were  interrupted  in 
our  conversation. " 

"  My  son,"  replied  the  Arab,  "I  was  formerly  the  most 
famous  pirate  in  the  City  of  the  Golden  Towers,  but  I 
was  cast  on  the  island  of  Limbi,  and  seeing  no  means  of 
getting  back  to  my  friends,  unless  I  braved  the  perils  of 
a  voyage  which  was  nearly  fatal  to  you,  I  determined  to 
wait." 

"  You  settled  on  the  island? " 

"Yes;  and  when  this  boy,  Harkaway,  asked  me  to 
steer  him  to  the  Golden  City,  I  was  more  than  glad  to 
do  so.  It  was  the  wish  of  my  heart.  I  have  heard  all 


AFL OA  T  AND  ASHORE.  1 5 1 

about  you,  and  I  know  that  your  friends,  the  Pisangs, 
have  gone  to  the  Malay  pirates  in  large  numbers." 

"  They  have." 

"  With  them  they  bore  a  lovely  English  maiden,"  con- 
tinued Ayoub. 

"You  know  that  ?  "  cried  Hunston. 

"And  more  than  that,  you  love  her.  Harkaway  loves 
her,  and  there  is  a  hatred  between  you." 

"You  are  right  there,"  Hunston  said,  between  his 
teeth.  "The  more  he  does  for  me,  the  more  I  seem  to 
detest  him.  The  reason  I  have  come  to  speak  to  you  is 
that  I  do  not  think  you  mean  to  keep  faith  with  him." 

' '  Can  I  trust  you  ?  "  said  Ayoub. 

"  I'll  take  any  oath  you  like." 

' '  What  are  oaths  to  men  like  you  and  I  ?  "  replied  the 
Arab,  contemptuously. 

"  You  must  have  sense  enough  to  know  that  you  can 
frust  me,  and  if  I  can  give  you  a  hand  in  any  villany, 
I'm  ready  to  do  so." 

"I  don't  know  that  you  can  do  anything,"  replied 
Ayoub,  "  yet  it  is  a  relief  to  have  some  one  to  talk  to. 
The  ship  is  a  wreck,  and  scarcely  worthy  of  the  pirates' 
attention." 

"  Are  we  near  the  pirates  ?  "  Hunston  asked. 

"Yes,  they  will  be  here  soon.  I  shall  hoist  a  red 
light  at  midnight,  to  show  them  there  are  friends  on 
board. " 

"What  then?" 

"When  they  board  the  ship  they  will  spare  the  lives  of 
all  who  are  near  the  red  light,  the  rest  they  will  slay." 

"There  will  be  an  end  of  Harkaway  then,"  said  Hun- 
ston, with  a  savage  smile. 

"  And  all  his  friends,"  replied  Ayoub. 

Jack  was  listening  intently  to  this  conversation.  "The 
fiends  !  "  he  muttered. 

"You  shall  marry  the  white  maiden,  and  be  a  great 
chief  among  the  pirates,"  continued  Ayoub. 

"That  will  suit  me  exactly.  I  should  like  to  be  a 
pirate  king." 

"I  held  a  high  position  among  them,"  the  Arab  went 
on,  "  before  I  was  wrecked  off  Limbi.  Often  have  I 
longed  to  return  to  the  scene  of  youth  and  manhood. 
But  the  voyage  was  too  perilous  to  be  undertaken  alone." 


152  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"Are  the  pirates  Malays?  " 

"Not  all.  They  have  men  of  all  nations  with  them. 
French,  English,  Spanish  and  American.  We  are  near- 
ing  the  mouth  of  the  river  now.  Can  not  you  see  under 
the  bluff  headlands  on  the  right  some  lights  dancing  like 
fire-flies  ? " 

"Yes." 

"Those  are  the  lights  of  the  pirates'  proas  riding  at  an- 
chor. There  is  a  safe  anchorage  there,  and  many  ships 
remain  there  to  guard  the  entrance  to  the  river." 

"There  must  be  a  lot  of  them  from  the  number  of 
lights,"  cried  Hunston. 

"Twice  six,  and  full  of  armed  men.  What  chance  has 
this  disabled  ship  of  contending  against  the  pirate  fleet  ?  " 

"  Have  they  seen  us  yet  ?  " 

"Not  yet.  We  are  hull  down  in  the  water,"  said 
Ayoub,  who  talked  in  the  Limbian  language,  that  being 
perfectly  intelligible  to  Hunston. 

"  Have  you  got  a  red  light  ready  ?  " 

"I  have." 

"Will  they  recognise  it?  "  continued  Hunston. 

"They  will,"  replied  Ayoub  with  a  smile.  "I  used  to 
go  out  in  a  boat  on  the  look-out  for  a  passing  ship,  telling 
the  captain  I  was  a  pilot,  who  would  navigate  his  vessel 
through  the  dangerous  channels  with  which  the  coast  of 
the  Malay  peninsula  abounds,  and  when  I  got  them  here 
I  showed  the  red  light,  which  means  blood." 

Jack  shuddered. 

"They  will  say,  'Heaven  is  good  to  us,'"  continued 
the  Arab  ;  "  'our  old  friend  Ayoub,  the  mighty,  has  come 
back  again.  Blood  will  run  like  water.  Come,  my 
brethren,  let  us  go  to  Ayoub,  and  slay  the  disciples  of 
the  cross.'  " 

' '  You  are  sure  they  won't  kill  you  and  me  by  mistake  ?" 
said  Hunston. 

"Our  lives  are  safe  in  my  hands  ;  though,  had  you  not 
spoken  to  me  to-day,  yours  would  have  been  sacrificed 
with  the  rest." 

As  he  spoke,  the  infamous  wretch  who  had  been  all 
along  planning  this  massacre  of  the  officers  and  crew  of 
the  "Sea-horse,"  took  up  a  lamp  he  had  concealed  be- 
hind some  spars. 

He  held  it  up  in  the  air,  saying,  "Behold  the  signal." 


AtLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  153 

The  next  moment  Jack  had  levelled  a  pistol  at  his  head, 
and  crying— 

"  Rascally  Arab,  take  that,"  he  fired. 

Ayoub,  shot  through  the  forehead,  uttered  the  single 
word  "Allah  !  "  and  fell  forward  at  Hunston's  feet 

There  was  another  barrel  in  the  pistol  undischarged. 

Jack  played  restlessly  with  the  trigger. 

"I've  a  deuced  good  mind  to  give  you  the  contents  of 
number  two,  Mister  Hunston,"  he  said. 

Hunston's  eyes  fell,  and  he  trembled  a  little. 

"Ha!"  said  Jack  noticing  this,  "does  the  fear  of 
death  come  upon  you  after  all  ?  " 

"  I  am  weak  and  ill.  You  forget  what  troubles  I  have 
gone  through  lately.  It's  the  body  that  trembles,  not  the 
spirit,"  Hunston  replied. 

"  Your  companion  revealed  himself  in  his  true  colours 
at  last,  and  he  died  the  death  of  a  traitor." 

"Shoot  away,  if  you  are  going  to  shoot,"  cried  Hun- 
ston ;  "only  don't  stand  jawing  at  me.  You're  as 
bad  as  the  chaplain  of  a  gaol  preaching  a  condemned 
sermon." 

Jack's  hand  still  held  the  pistol,  and  the  least  move- 
ment of  his  finger  would  have  hurled  Hunston  into 
eternity. 

He  hesitated,  however,  to  fire. 

The  recollections  of  the  old  days  at  school  came  over 
him. 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

ATTACKED     BY    PIRATES. 

THE  sudden  death  of  Ayoub,  and  the  consequent  col- 
lapse of  his  treacherous  plans,  alarmed  Hunston. 

He  saw  that  Harkaway  was  very  angry,  and  he  ex- 
pected to  be  shot  every  moment. 

"At  least  I  will  have  a  struggle  for  it,"  he  muttered 
between  his  clenched  teeth. 

Rushing  upon  Jack,  he  endeavored  to  wrench  the  pistol 
out  of  his  hand. 

Had  he  succeeded  in  doing  so,  he  would  undoubtedly 
have  shot  him. 


154  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  ADVENTURES 

But  Jack  would  not  release  his  hold. 

They  swayed  backwards  and  forwards. 

All  at  once  the  trigger  of  the  pistol  was  accidentally 
pulled,  and,  as  the  muzzle  happened  to  be  presented 
against  Hunston,  he  received  the  charge  in  his  left 
arm. 

The  injured  limb  hung  helplessly  by  his  side. 

He  staggered  against  the  bulwarks,  pale  as  death,  and 
cursing  his  ill-luck. 

"  It  was  your  own  fault ;  you  would  have  it,"  exclaimed 
Jack. 

Ben  Blunt,  attracted  by  the  firing,  advanced,  and  ex- 
amined the  injured  limb. 

"  It  must  come  off,"  he  said. 

"What?  "  cried  Hunston.      "Lose  my  arm?  " 

"  There  is  no  help  for  it,"  replied  Ben. 

"  Be  a  one-armed  man  all  my  life  !  " 

The  expression  of  Hunston's  face,  as  he  uttered  these 
words,  was  fiendish  in  the  extreme. 

"  You  ought  to  think  yourself  lucky  you  have  escaped 
with  your  life,"  remarked  Harvey. 

"I'll  be  revenged  on  you,  Harkaway  for  this,"  cried 
Hunston,  writhing  with  pain. 

Jack  turned  contemptuously  from  him. 

"Wherever  you  are — in  whatever  quarter  of  the  globe 
— I  am  more  than  ever  your  enemy,  and  I  will  find  you 
out,"  continued  Hunston. 

He  would  have  said  more,  but,  faint  from  loss  of  blood 
and  severe  pain,  he  sank  on  the  deck  insensible. 

"Take  him  below,  Ben,  and  see  to  him,"  said  Jack. 

"Aye,  aye,  sir." 

"And  some  of  you  fellows  throw  that  carrion  over- 
board," added  Jack,  pointing  to  the  dead  body  of  Ayoub. 

His  orders  were  obeyed,  and  Ben  carried  Hunston 
below. 

Ben  Blunt  had  a  rough  knowledge  of  surgery,  having 
been  in  more  than  one  action,  and  with  Harvey's  help, 
he  amputated  Hunston's  arm  just  below  the  shoulder. 

A  sharp  knife  and  a  saw  were  all  that  was  required, 
with  a  bit  of  silk  for  a  tourniquet  to  take  up  the  veins. 

Bandaging  it  round  afterwards,  he  left  the  wretched 
young  man  to  go  to  sleep. 

His  thoughts  were  not  pleasant. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE. 


'55 


For  the  remainder  of  his  life  Hunston  would  be  a  one- 
armed  man. 

His  wickedness  had  been  punished  at  last. 

A  good  look-out  was  kept  on  board,  and  the  best 
weapons  that  could  be  found  were  supplied  to  the  crew. 

Jack  anticipated  an  attack  from  the  pirates. 

Nor  was  he  mistaken. 

About  midnight  they  with  difficulty  made  out  half-a- 
dozen  heavily  manned  boats  rowing  towards  them. 

"All  hands  forward  to  repel  boarders,"  exclaimed  Jack. 

Directly  he  heard  this  order,  Mr.  Mole  disappeared. 

The  remainder  of  those  on  board,  however,  evinced 
every  inclination  for  the  fight. 

Steadily  the  pirates  came  on. 

The  movement  of  the  oars  in  the  row-locks  became 
more  distinct. 

Dividing  into  two  parties,  the  pirates  began  the  attack 
on  each  side  simultaneously. 

With  their  cruel  sharp  knives  in  their  mouths  they 
swarmed  up  the  sides. 

Volley  after  volley  was  fired  at  them. 

Many  fell  back  into  the  boats  or  the  sea  mortally 
wounded. 

Others  immediately  took  their  places. 

Jack  fought  valiantly. 

A  stalwart  Malay  singled  him  out,  and  after  a  few 
attempts  succeeded  in  cutting  him  down. 

Jack  fell  to  the  deck,  badly  wounded. 

The  fall  of  their  leader  damped  the  ardour  of  the  Eng- 
lish crew. 

In  vain  Harvey  strove  to  lead  them  forward. 

They  were  overpowered  by  numbers,  and  surrendered 
at  discretion. 

Ben  Blunt  was  stabbed  to  the  heart,  and  his  body 
stiffened  in  the  moonlight. 

Harvey  had  a  flesh  wound  in  the  leg,  and  could  only 
limp  about. 

When  the  fighting  was  over,  the  Malays  ceased  the 
work  of  slaughter. 

It  was  the  custom  of  the  pirates  to  take  as  many  pris- 
oners as  they  could,  in  order  to  obtain  ransom. 

Monday  had  fought  valiantly,  and,  strange  to  say,  was 
unhurt. 


156  JACK  HARKA  WAY'S  AD  VENTURES 

Perhaps  in  the  confusion  the  Malays,  from  his  dark 
skin,  mistook  him  for  one  of  their  own  party. 

The  faithful  fellow  attended  to  his  young  masters  and 
bound  up  their  wounds. 

He  spoke  to  the  pirates  and  told  them  they  were  great 
chiefs. 

This  made  the  Malays  treat  them  with  great  considera- 
tion. 

Mr.  Mole  was  captured  and  fastened  to  Monday  with  a 
chain. 

Jack  and  Harvey  were  conveyed  below,  and  the  latter 
did  all  that  lay  in  his  power  for  his  old  friend. 

When  the  pirates  had  cleared  the  deck  of  the  dead, 
they  began  to  tow  the  ship  to  the  mouth  of  the  river. 

All  night  long  they  continued  to  work  and  by  morning 
the  vessel  was  moored  alongside  a  landing-place,  in  the 
city  of  the  Golden  Towers. 

Harvey  was  disappointed  at  the  first  view  of  the  city. 

It  was  like  most  oriental  towns  ;  an  assemblage  of 
narrow  dirty  streets. 

In  the  centre  rose  a  temple  which  had  a  dome,  sur- 
rounded by  twelve  towers  or  minarets. 

These  were  covered  with  gilding. 

It  was  this  temple  that  gave  the  pirates'  stronghold  the 
romantic  and  fascinating  name  of  the  City  of  the  Golden 
Towers. 

Ill  as  Hunston  was,  he  contrived  to  speak  to  the  pirate 
chiefs. 

The  result  was  that  he  was  not  classed  with  the  other 
prisoners. 

Probably  he  referred  to  the  Pisang  chiefs,  who  had  left 
their  own  country  and  joined  the  pirates. 

At  all  events  he  was  treated  with  distinction,  while 
Harkaway,  Harvey,  Monday  and  Mr.  Mole  were  re- 
moved to  a  loathsome  dungeon  in  the  city. 

Jack  lay  upon  a  heap  of  mouldy  straw,  Harvey  by  his 
side. 

His  wounds  were  very  painful,  and  he  was  weak  in 
the  extreme. 

"  I  shall  never  get  home  again,  Dick  !  "  he  exclaimed, 
in  a  low  voice. 

"Yes,  you  will.  Eat  some  of  this  rice,  and  drink 
some  water,"  replied  Harvey. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE. 


'57 


"I  can't  eat.     Give  me  the  water." 

He  drank  copiously,  for  his  blood  was  hot  and  feverish. 

"They've  done  for  me  this  time,"  he  moaned. 

"What's  that  you  say,  Harkaway?"  exclaimed  Mr. 
Mole.  "  Don't  give  way.  Look  at  my  position." 

"  You're  not  hurt,  sir,  as  Harkaway  is,"  rejoined 
Harvey. 

"No;  but  I  am  suffering  the  intolerable  indignity  of 
being  chained  to  a  negro  in  this  stifling  vault." 

Monday  gave  the  chain  a  pull. 

' '  Don't  do  that,"  cried  Mr.  Mole  ;  "you'll  wrench  my 
leg  off." 

"Speak  Monday  civil,"  replied  the  black.  "It's  no 
good  um  grumble  now.  Monday  pull  um  leg  off  if  not 
quiet." 

Mr.  Mole  groaned  dismally. 

' '  I  wonder  if  they  will  spare  our  lives  ? "  he  said. 
"  Perhaps  owing  to  the  way  I  fought,  they  will  be  extra 
savage  against  me." 

No  one  took  any  notice  of  him,  and  he  continued  to 
grumble  to  himself. 

The  position  of  the  little  party  was  anything  but  agree- 
able. 

Two  of  them  were  wounded,  and  they  were  confined 
in  a  hot,  stifling  vault ;  the  only  air  and  light  they 
enjoyed  penetrating  through  a  little  grated  window  high 
up  in  the  wall. 

Thus  a  week  passed. 

Food  was  brought  them  regularly  every  day,  but  they 
could  glean  no  information  from  their  gaoler,  who  re- 
fused to  answer  any  questions. 

Jack  wanted  quinine  and  fresh  air  to  complete  his  cure, 
but  there  did  not  seem  much  hope  of  his  obtaining  them. 

Their  despair  was  at  its  height  when  they  received  a 
visit  which  put  new  life  into  them. 

The  gaoler  one  morning  introduced  a  fairy-like  vision, 
which  Jack,  from  his  straw  bed,  at  once  recognized. 

He  made  an  effort  to  rise,  but  was  too  weak  to  do  so. 

"  Emily,"  he  murmured,  softly. 

Her  eyes,  accustomed  to  the  blinding  sun,  could  not 
distinguish  him  in  the  semi-darkness. 

Guided  by  his  voice  she  ran  to  the  side  of  the  straw 
bed  and  sank  on  her  knees. 


1 58  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

Seizing  his  thin,  transparent  hand,  she  bedewed  it 
with  tears. 

" Oh,  Jack  dear !  "  she  exclaimed.  "It  is  so  sad  to  see 
you  like  this  ;  but  I  would  rather  meet  you  thus  than  not 
see  you  at  all." 

"Thank  you,  Emily,"  replied  Jack.  "I  wanted  to 
see  you  before  I  died.  I  can  die  happy  now." 

"  Die !     Are  you  hurt  ?  " 

"  I  was  wounded  with  a  creese  when  the  pirates  attacked 
us.  How  did  you  get  in  here  ? "  he  said. 

"I  live  in  the  palace  of  the  pirate  king,  and  he  sent  me 
to  you  to  ask  what  ransom  you  could  pay,"  replied  Emily. 

"Where  is  Hunston  ?  " 

"Very  ill.  He  has  had  a  bad  attack  of  fever,  and  has 
been  delirious  for  some  days,  which  is  lucky,  as  he  might 
have  done  you  some  harm.  All  his  Pisang  friends  are 
here,  and  he  is  being  taken  care  of." 

"Why  have  the  pirates  kept  us  here  so  long?"  asked 
Jack. 

"  I  cannot  tell  exactly,"  answered  Emily.  "But  I  have 
heard  them  say  that  one  of  Her  Majesty's  ships  has  been 
cruising  about  the  mouth  of  the  river." 

"And  that  has  occupied  all  their  time?" 

"Exactly." 

A  ray  of  hope  lighted  up  Jack's  face. 

"Dick  !  "  he  exclaimed. 

"Yes,"  replied  Harvey. 

"That  ship  they  speak  about  must  be  the  one  we  met, 
H.  M.  S.  'Victor,' Commander  Dacres." 

"  I  hope  to  goodness  she  is,"  replied  Harvey. 

"Well,  Jack  dear,  what  shall  I  say  to  the  pirate  king?  " 

"Tell  him  we've  got  lots  of  money  at  home,  and  we 
will  ransom  ourselves  handsomely,  as  soon  as  we  have 
means  of  communicating  with  our  guardians,"  said  Jack. 

"Very  well." 

Suddenly  a  voice  said — 

"Young  lady  ! " 

It  was  Mr  Mole  who  spoke. 

"  Who  is  that,  Jack?  "  asked  Emily. 

"Only  Mr.  Mole." 

"One  of  your  friends  ?  " 

"The  best,  truest,  and  staunchest  that  Harkaway  ever 
had,  miss,"  replied  Mr.  Mole. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE. 


'59 


"  Indeed,  sir." 

"I  have  shed  my  blood  for  him  on  innumerable  occa- 
sions, and  I  will  show  my  magnanimity  now." 

"That's  right,  sir,"  said  Harvey. 

"Monday,"  remarked  Mr.  Mole,  "  don't  pull  so  hard  on 
that  confounded  chain;  do  you  hear?  You  gall  my 
leg." 

"Never  mind  um  leg,  sare,"  replied  Monday,  "go  on 
with  the  magnanimimums. " 

"I,  young  lady,  am  the  proprietor  of  a  tea-garden  in 
China,"  continued  Mr.  Mole. 

"  Yes  ?  "  said  Emily. 

"  Tell  your  pirate  friends  that  I  will  make  them  a  present 
of  this  lovely  tea-garden,  if  they  will  give  us  our  liberty 
and  let  us  go." 

"  Bravo,"  cried  Harvey.  "  Mole  isn't  such  a  bad  sort 
after  all. " 

' '  When  you  have  occasion  to  allude  to  me,  Harvey, 
you  will  please  to  address  me  as  Mr.  Mole." 

" Beg  pardon,  sir." 

"It  is  granted, "  replied  Mr.  Mole,  grandly. 

Emily  spoke  a  few  words  to  Jack  in  a  low  voice,  beg- 
ging him  to  keep  up  his  spirits,  and  holding  out  hopes  of 
speedy  liberation. 

Then  she  took  her  departure. 


CHAPTER  XXX 

SHELLING    THE    PIRATE  CITY. 

"  ANGELS'  visits  are  few  and  far  between,  and  don't  last 
long,"  said  Jack,  as  if  speaking  to  himself. 

"Havel  not  behaved  handsomely,  Harkaway?"  asked 
Mr.  Mole. 

Jack  was  thinking  of  Emily,  and  made  no  answer. 

"  Harvey,  I  appeal  to  you,"  continued  Mr.  Mole. 

"You  know,  sir,  that  land  is  not  like  money.  The 
pirates  could  never  go  and  claim  your  land,  because  you 
could  say  who  they  were,  and  have  them  taken  up,"  re- 
plied Harvey. 


160  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

He  had  been  thinking  over  Mr.  Mole's  apparent  gen 
erosity,  and  the  more  he  considered  it,  the  less  he  believed 
in  its  reality. 

Jack  remembered  what  the  lieutenant  of  Her  Majesty's 
ship  had  told  him  when  he  overhauled  the  "Sea-horse." 

Emily's  remark  about  the  pirates  being  worried  by  a 
vessel  of  war,  raised  his  spirits  considerably. 

When  Harvey  damped  the  bandages  with  water  and 
replaced  them  over  his  wounds,  Jack  said — 

"I  feel  better,  Dick." 

"That's  right,  old  man.  Keep  up  your  pluck,"  replied 
Harvey. 

"  It's  so  difficult  to  do  that  when  you're  ill.  You  don't 
know  what  a  change  illness  makes  in  a  fellow.  It  seems 
to  take  all  the  go  out  of  him." 

"  I  know  it  does.     I  was  ill  once — had  a  fever." 

"But  I  feel  different  now.  Emily  has  put  new  life 
into  me." 

"  I  thought  she  would,  bless  her !  "  said  Harvey. 

"And  I  don't  believe  we  shall  be  prisoners  much 
longer,"  continued  Jack. 

"Why  not?" 

"The  'Victor '  has  found  the  pirates  out,  and  they  will 
shell  the  city." 

"It's  an  advantage,  then,  to  be  shut  up  in  this  vault." 

"  Well, "  said  Jack,  "so  far  as  escaping  the  effects  of  the 
bombardment,  it  is.  I  know  the  British  government  have 
been  trying  for  some  time  to  exterminate  the  nest  of 
pirates  who  have  infested  these  seas  so  long. " 

While  he  was  speaking,  a  loud  booming  was  heard. 

The  whiz  of  a  shell  made  itself  distinctly  audible  as  it 
flew  over  the  devoted  city. 

There  was  a  crash  of  falling  masonry,  and  then  for  a 
minute  all  was  still. 

"By  Jove,  they're  at  it !  "  cried  Harvey. 

"Sooner  than  I  expected,"  said  Jack,  with  a  quiet 
smile  playing  over  his  emaciated  face. 

Presently  the  sound  was  repeated,  and  it  continued  at 
intervals  of  half  a  minute. 

The  crashes  were  incessant. 

It  appeared  that  by  morning  there  would  not  be  one 
stone  left  standing  on  another  in  the  famous  City  of  the 
Golden  Towers. 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  l6l 

" That's  splendid  practice.  How  well  they  fire,"  said 
Jack,  delightedly. 

"  Hurrah  for  the  royal  navy,  and  our  rattling  blue 
jackets  !  "  exclaimed  Harvey. 

"What  is  all  this  hubbub  ? "  asked  Mr.  Mole,  trembling 
all  over. 

"The  British  fighting  the  pirates.     They  have  found 
them  out  at  last,"  replied  Jack. 
'  How  do  you  know  ?  " 

'  I'm  sure  of  it.     We  shall  be  free  in  a  few  hours,  sir." 
'  That  is  good  news.     I  hope  this  casement  is  shot- 
proof,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  adding,  "  Monday  !  " 
'  Sare  ?  "  replied  the  black. 

'Don't  pull  so  confoundedly  hard  on  that  chain." 
'Can't  help  um,  sare." 
'  You  drag  on  it. " 
'Monday  do  um  war  dance,  sare." 
'  Well,  then,  kindly  postpone  it,  because  it  is  painful 
to  my  feelings,  and  my  skin  is  tender." 

"All  right,  sare,"  replied  Monday,  "him  stop  um 
dance." 

The  bombardment  had  continued  for  four  hours  with- 
out a  break. 

Jack  was  anxious  about  Emily. 

Suddenly  he  was  relieved  by  seeing  the  door  open,  and 
his  darling  rush  in,  her  hair  dishevelled  and  showing  signs 
of  terror. 

"  Oh  !  Jack,"  she  said,  "  I've  had  such  an  escape." 
' '  From  what,  dear  ?  "  he  asked. 

"The  city  is  on  fire  in  a  dozen  places,  and  the  pirates 
are  leaving  in  crowds." 
"Is it  the  'Victor'?" 

"I  don't  know  the  name  of  the  ship,  but  it  is  a  British 
man-of-war,  and  it  is  giving  it  the  pirates  finely. " 
"  Hurrah  !  "  cried  Harvey. 

"The  pirate  chief  wanted  to  take  me  with  him  up  the 
country  somewhere,  and  make  me  his  wife,"  she  said. 
"Beast !  "  ejaculated  Jack. 

"I  escaped  and  ran  through  the  burning  city.      How  I 

missed  being  shot,  or  crushed  by  the  falling  masonry,  or 

burnt,  I  don't  know,  but  I  thought  it  best  to  come  to  you." 

"  Did  the  guards  let  you  in  ? " 

"There   are  no  guards;    they  have  all   run    away.      I 


162  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  ADVENTURES 

merely  slipped  back  the  bolt,  and  here  I  am,"  she  re- 
plied. 

"Thank  Heaven  you  are  near  me,"  rejoined  Jack. 
"Sit  down  by  my  side,  and  let  me  hold  your  hand  in 
mine,  dear." 

She  did  so. 

Crash,  crash,  continued  the  shells. 

H.  M.  S.  "Victor"  was  in  earnest  this  time. 

The  destruction  is  terrible  when  an  unfortified  town  is 
bombarded  by  all  the  appliances  of  modern  science. 

At  the  expiration  of  about  six  hours,  as  well  as  the  boys 
could  guess,  the  firing  ceased. 

"  Dick,"  said  Jack,  "  are  you  well  enough  to  walk?  " 

"I  can  limp  about  a  bit,"  answered  Harvey. 

"Go  then  to  the  riverside  with  something  white,  and 
let  the  English  know  that  British  prisoners  are  confined 
here. " 

"All  right,  I'll  try." 

"  Shall  I  go  with  him  ? "  asked  Emily. 

"  No,  my  precious  one,"  answered  Jack,  "I  can't  part 
with  you  ;  sit  still  where  you  are. " 

She  pressed  his  hand  affectionately. 

Harvey  was  at  a  loss  for  something  of  a  white  colour. 

He,  as  well  as  the  rest  of  the  party,  had  a  handkerchief 
and  a  shirt. 

These,  however,  had  long  ago  ceased  to  bear  any  re- 
semblance to  white. 

If  any  colour  at  all,  they  were   black. 

"To  sally  forth  with  such  a  thing,  would  be  to  hoist 
the  black  flag,"  as  Harvey  said,  with  a  laugh. 

Emily  blushed. 

"  If  you  don't  mind,"  she  said,  "  you  can  have  a  bit  of 
my  petticoat.  It  is  clean,  for  I  washed  it  out  myself, 
yesterday. " 

"You,  Emily?"  exclaimed  Jack. 

"Yes;  and  I'm  not  ashamed  of  it.  There  are  no 
laundresses  here,  for  the  best  possible  reason." 

"  What's  that  ?" 

"  The  people  don't  wear  any  clothes  to  speak  about" 

Everyone  laughed  at  this  answer. 

"  Now  don't  look  at  me  and  make  fun,"  she  went  on. 

"As  if  we  could  do  such  a  thing,"  rejoined  Harvey. 

"  Oh,  I  know  what  you  boys  are,"  she  answered  smiling. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  163 

Turning  round,  she  lifted  up  her  dress  and  dexterously 
tore  off  a  part  of  her  petticoat,  which  she  handed  to 
Harvey. 

"If  you  lose  that,  I'll  kill  you,  Dick,"  said  Jack,  "  It's 
more  precious  than  cloth  of  gold." 

"Don't  be  foolish,  Jack,"  said  Emily. 

"I'll  guard  it  with  my  life,"  answered  Harvey,  "and  if 
I'm  asked  what  flag  it  is,  I  shall  say  it's  the  flag  of  all 
nations." 

"All  nations  ?  "  repeated  Emily. 

"Yes;  every  man  strikes  his  flag  to  a  petticoat, "  said 
Harvey. 

He  had  no  difficulty  in  opening  the  door  and  going  up 
the  mouldy  steps  which  led  from  the  dungeon.  He 
reached  the  open  air. 

A  strange  spectacle  met  his  gaze. 

The  city,  a  few  hours  before  proud  and  wealthy,  was 
literally  a  heap  of  ruins. 

Flames  shot  up  into  the  air  in  different  directions,  and 
a  thick  pall  of  smoke  obscured  the  sky. 

No  one  was  to  be  seen. 

The  city  was  deserted  by  its  inhabitants. 

He  had  not  picked  his  way  far  between  the  d&bris,  when 
a  shot  went  by  his  ear  and  pinged  against  a  wall. 

"Hi!"  he  said.  "Rule  Britannia.  Don't  shoot  a 
countryman." 

He  held  up  his  strange  flag. 

The  next  moment  he  was  face  to  face  with  a  party  of 
marines. 

"Who  are  you,  my  lad?"  asked  the  officer  in  com- 
mand. 

" British  prisoner,  sir;  wounded  in  the  leg,  and  taken 
out  of  a  merchantman  with  others  by  the  pirates." 

"  How  many  are  there  of  you  ? " 

"  Five  in  all,  and  one's  a  lady,"  replied  Harvey. 

"  In  that  case,  I  had  better  get  you  out  of  this  and  put 
you  aboard.  Lead  on  to  the  prison,"  said  the  officer;  add- 
ing, "now,  my  lads,  keep  your  weather  eye  open  for  an 
ambush.  By  your  right  quick  march  !  " 

"  Slow  march,  if  you  please,  sir,"  said  Harvey. 

"Why?" 

«'  Didn't  I  tell  you  I  had  a  game  leg  ?  Give  me  an  arm. 
It's  uncommonly  siiS.  I  can  tell  you." 


164  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"Ah,  I  forgot  that;  lean  on  me,"  said  the  officer. 
" Those  creeses  of  the  Malays  give  nasty  wounds." 

"That  they  do,"  exclaimed  Harvey,  limping  along. 

With  a  wildly  beating  heart  he  led  the  way  to  the 
dungeon. 

Hope  dawned  in  his  breast  once  more. 

Their  troubles  were  nearly  over. 


CHAPTER  XXXL 

ON   BOARD   H.    M.    S.     "VICTOR." 

IN  less  than  an  hour  the  prisoners  were  removed  on 
board  the  "Victor." 

Here  all  the  surgeon  attended  to  Jack's  wounds,  and  were 
treated  with  the  utmost  kindness  and  consideration. 

It  was  a  pleasant  and  happy  change. 

A  large  quantity  of  valuable  property  was  recovered 
from  the  burning  city,  and  this  put  the  sailors  in  a  good 
temper,  as  they  could  look  forward  to  prize-money. 

The  pirates  being  thoroughly  beaten  and  their  city  de- 
stroyed, the  "Victor"  dropped  down  the  river. 

It  was  the  captain's  intention  to  land  the  captives  at 
Singapore. 

His  cruise  was  not  yet  over,  and  he  could  not  leave  the 
China  Seas. 

At  Singapore  no  doubt  a  vessel  would  give  them  a  pass- 
age to  England. 

Good  food,  fresh  air,  and  excellent  surgical  attendance 
was  all  that  Jack  and  Harvey  required. 

They  soon  recovered,  and  went  about  as  usual. 

Emily  was  the  pet  and  darling  of  the  whole  ship's 
company,  but  she  had  only  eyes  for  Jack. 

There  was  one  man  on  board  Jack  did  not  like. 

He  was  tall  and  thin,  with  dark,  flashing  eyes. 

His  father  was  a  merchant  at  Singapore,  and  a  friend 
of  the  captain  of  the  ' '  Victor. " 

The  young  man,  who  was  about  nineteen,  not  being  in 
very  good  health,  had  been  received  on  board  the  ship  as 
the  guest  of  the  captain,  and  taken  for  a  cruise. 

His  name  was  Frank  Davis. 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  165 

He  fell  violently  in  love  with  Emily,  and  persecuted 
her  with  his  attentions  on  all  occasions. 

Being  an  idle  man,  and  having  no  duty  to  do  on  board 
the  ship,  he  was  able  to  roam  about  when  and  where  he 
liked. 

Emily  did  not  encourage  him,  but  she  did  not  like  to  be 
rude. 

Consequently  Jack  often  saw  them  together  and  his  face 
flushed  as  he  saw  Frank  Davis  bending  over  her. 

Pointing  him  out  to  Harvey,  Jack  said — 

"  I  shall  punch  that  snob's  head  some  day." 

" I  wouldn't,"  replied  Harvey.  "You  are  not  strong, 
and  we  shall  soon  make  Singapore,  when  we  shall  get  rid 
of  him." 

"It's  a  nuisance  to  think  I  have  got  another  fellow  to 
worry  me,  just  when  Hunston  is  wiped  out  and  we  have 
made  an  end  to  all  our  troubles." 

"Do  you  think  Hunston  is  dead?" 

"  I  fancy  he  must  have  died  in  the  burning  city.  Ill 
as  he  was,  he  could  scarcely  escape,"  replied  Jack. 

' '  At  all  events,  he  is  not  on  board  this  ship.  That's 
one  comfort,"  remarked  Harvey. 

Jack  watched  Mr.  Davis  carefully,  and  in  spite  of 
Harvey's  advice,  sought  an  opportunity  to  pick  a  quarrel 
with  him. 

Davis,  however,  was  very  civil  to  him  and  seemed  to  try 
to  avoid  a  rupture. 

Mr.  Mole  went  about  from  one  to  another  of  the  crew, 
and  recounted  his  valiant  exploits  among  the  savages. 

Monday  caused  the  sailors  great  amusement. 

He  begged  and  borrowed  from  them  a  complete  sailor's 
dress,  and  was  very  proud  of  it. 

The  "Victor"  had  to  go  out  of  her  course  to  chase  some 
pirate  craft. 

Sighting  an  island,  a  boat  was  lowered  to  go  and  obtain 
a  supply  of  water. 

Monday  ran  up  to  Jack  in  great  excitement. 
'  Mast'  Jack  !  "  he  exclaimed. 
'Well,  "replied  Jack. 

: That's  Limbi.     That's  my  island.     I  know  um  well." 
Is  it?" 

Yes.     You  aslc  the  Tuan  carAain  if  he  let  you  and  me 
go  and  land  with  the  sailor  men.' 


166  fACK  HARKA  WA  Y  >S  AD  VENTURES 

"Would  you  like  to  see  the  island  once  more?  "  asked 
Jack. 

"  Very  much  like,  sare,"  replied  Monday. 

"All  right.     I'll  go  and  get  permission." 

Jack  went  to  the  captain,  stated  the  case,  and  asked 
leave  for  himself  and  Monday  to  accompany  the  boat. 

Leave  was  at  once  granted. 

They  embarked  in  the  boat,  and  the  Limbians  came  to 
receive  them. 

When  they  saw  Jack  and  Monday  they  made  a  great 
feast  in  their  honor,  and  would  not  allow  the  English 
sailors  to  do  any  work,  but  filled  the  casks  with  water  for 
them. 

They  went  up  to  the  city,  and  Jack  called  upon  Alfura 
and  Ambonia. 

He  was  asked  a  variety  of  questions  about  Mr.  Mole, 
who,  he  said,  had  remained  in  the  pirate  city. 

"Will  he  come  back  ?  "  asked  Ambonia. 

"Oh,  yes,"  replied  Jack.  "He  is  very  anxious  to  see 
you  again.  Can  I  take  him  any  message  ?  " 

' '  We  have  a  surprise  for  him, "  said  Alfura  and  Ambonia 
in  a  breath. 

"What?" 

"Two  little  babies  ;  such  beauties.  Mine  is  a  boy,  we 
call  Isaac,  and  Alfura's  is  a  girl,  named  after  her." 

Jack  whistled. 

"Two  kids,"  he  exclaimed.    "Mr.  Mole  expected  this." 

"Did  he?"  asked  Alfura. 

' '  Yes  ;  and  he  wants  you  to  send  the  children  to  him. 
Cannot  the  nurse  take  them  in  a  basket  ?  " 

"We  should  not  like  to  part  with  them  ;  but  if  it  is 
their  father's  wish " 

"  It  is,"  rejoined  Jack. 

"Then  the  dear  little  Innocents  must  go,"  replied 
Ambonia. 

She  went  into  an  adjoining  room,  and  the  nurse  who 
had  charge  of  them  brought  them  in  for  Jack's  inspection. 

They  were  not  quite  so  dusky  as  their  mothers,  but 
there  was  a  half-caste  tinge  about  their  complexions. 

' '  Bless  'em  !  "  said  Jack. 

He  kissed  their  foreheads. 

This  gracious  act  quite  won  the  hearts  of  the  mothers. 

The  infants  were  placed  in  a  basket,  covered  over. 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  167 

On  the  breast  of  one  Jack  put  a  piece  of  paper,  on 
which  he  wrote  "The  gentle  Isaac." 

On  the  other  he  placed  the  inscription, '"The  lovely 
Alfura. " 

And  on  the  top  of  the  basket  he  wrote — "A  present 
from  Limbi,  for  a  good  Mole. " 

"  Now,  nurse,"  he  said,  "  carry  that  down  to  the  boat. 
You  will  come  with  us  to  take  care  of  the  precious 
babbies. " 

"  Have  they  far  to  go  ?  "  asked  Alfura. 

"Only  a  few  days'  voyage." 

"And  will  Mr.  Mole  come  soon  ?  "  sighed  Ambonia. 

"  Before  another  moon  has  passed,"  replied  Jack. 

The  mothers  began  to  cry,  and  Jack  cleared  out, 
making  for  the  boat,  where  the  crew  were  waiting  for 
him. 

When  the  lieutenant  in  charge  asked  who  the  old 
woman  was,  Jack  informed  him  that  she  was  taking 
something  on  board  for  Mr.  Mole,  and  it  would  be  all 
right. 

The  children,  having  been  well  fed,  slept  placidly. 

At  length  the  boat  reached  the  ship,  and  the  basket 
was  taken  up  and  placed  on  the  quarter-deck. 

"  You  stand  back  till  you're  wanted,"  said  Jack  to  the 
nurse. 

The  captain  and  officers  crowded  round  the  basket. 

The  crew  looked  on  at  a  distance. 

Jack  saluted  the  captain,  and  the  captain  saluted  Jack. 

"What's  this,  Mr.  H  arka  way  ?"  asked  Captain  Dacre. 

"A  present  for  Mr.  Mole,  sir,"  replied  Jack. 

"  Pass  the  word  for  Mr.  Mole,"  said  the  captain. 

The  word  was  passed  and  Mr.  Mole  emerged  from  the 
captain's  servant's  cabin,  where  all  the  good  things  were 
kept. 

He  wiped  his  mouth  as  he  came  out  and  he  exhaled  a 
smell  of  brandy. 

"You  did  me  the  honor  to  send  for  me,  sir,"  he  said. 

"Your  former  friends  have  sent  you  something,"  replied 
the  captain. 

"Ah!  indeed.  They  remember  my  valorous  feats. 
This  is  kind  of  them,  and  also  proper. " 

"  Will  you  open  the  basket  now  ?  " 

"I  will,  sir,  with  your  permission." 


1 68  JACK  HARK  A  WAY'S  AD  VENTURES 

Mr.  Mole  stooped  down  and  untied  the  fastenings  of 
the  basket. 

The  cloth  was  thrown  back,  and  the  children  revealed 
to  view. 

Mr.  Mole  staggered,  and  uttered  a  groan. 

"The  gentle  Isaac  and  the  lovely  Alfura,"  he  mur- 
mured. 

The  officers  burst  into  a  roar  of  laughter,  and  even 
Captain  Dacre  himself  could  not  refrain  from  smiling. 

Suddenly  Mr.  Mole's  manner  changed. 

He  grew  furious. 

"Who  has  done  this?  Who  has  played  me  this  base 
trick  ? "  he  cried. 

"They  are  your  children,  sir,"  replied  Harkaway. 
"You  know  you  married  two  wives  in  Limbi,  and  these 
children  are  the  consequence  of  the  rash  act " 

"I'll  have  none  of  them!  Away  with  the  reptiles; 
the  vermin  ;  the  little  black  images  !  " 

"I  appeal  to  these  gentlemen  if  the  sleeping  innocents 
are  not  the  exact  likeness  of  their  father,"  said  Jack. 

"  Into  the  sea  with  them,"  cried  Mr.  Mole. 

He  grasped  the  basket  and  would  have  cast  them  over 
the  ship's  side,  had  not  the  nurse  run  forward  and  seized 
him  by  the  ear. 

' '  Oh  !  my  ear,  my  ear  !  The  she-fiend  ;  she'll  wring 
it  off,"  vociferated  Mole,  dropping  the  basket 

The  children  began  to  scream. 

Leaving  her  hold  of  his  ear,  the  nurse  attended  to  the 
children. 

Mole  danced  up  and  down  like  a  madman. 

"Mr.  Harkaway,"  said  the  captain,  "this  may  be  a 
very  good  joke,  but  we  cannot  be  burdened  with  this  sort 
of  livestock." 

"Beg  pardon,  sir.  Didn't  wish  to  put  you  to  any  in- 
convenience," said  Jack. 

"  Possibly  not" 

"Fact  is,  sir,  I've  got  a  feeling  heart,"  said  Jack. 

"Every  sailor  ought  to  have  one." 

"Mr.  Mole,  sir,  has  deserted  his  wives,  and  the  poor 
infants  will  be  half  orphans,  if " 

"Yes,  yes,"  said  the  captain,  rather  impatiently,  as  he 
dectected  a  half  twinkle  in  Jack's  eye;  "we  know  all 
about  that ;  but  you  have  given  me  the  trouble  of  again 


A  FLO  A  T  AND  ASHORE,  169 

lowering  a  boat  to  send  these  children  and  their  nurse  to 
the  shore. " 

"  Won't  you  have  the  half  orphans,  sir  ? " 

"  Not  on  board  this  ship  ;  it  is  absurd  to  ask  me.  Any 
one  would  take  you  for  their  father,  you  are  so  anxious 
about  them." 

"I,  sir?  No,  sir.  Wouldn't  do  such  things,"  answered 
Jack,  with  a  broad  grin. 

"Go  forward,  Mr.  Harkaway  if  you  please,"  said  Cap- 
tain Dacre,  sternly.  "We  have  had  enough  of  this 
nonsense." 

Jack  retired,  whistling — 

"  It's  nice  to  be  a  father." 

When  Mr.  Mole  saw  that  the  captain  was  going  to 
send  the  gentle  Isaac  and  his  sister  back,  he  recovered 
himself. 

"Remove  the  brats  at  once,  sailors,"  he  said,  "and 
you  shall  have  a  crown  to  drink  my  health." 

A  boat  was  soon  lowered,  and  the  nurse,  with  the 
"precious  tits,"  as  Jack  called  them,  put  into  it. 

"This  proper  and  decided  act  of  the  captain's  has 
saved  me  the  trouble  and  work  of  buying  some  vermin- 
destroying  powder,"  muttered  Mr.  Mole.  "Ugh!  the 
black  beasts." 

"They're  yours,  sir,"  whispered  Jack  at  his  elbow. 

"Harkaway,  this  is  a  painful  joke,"  replied  Mr.  Mole. 

"  Bad  for  the  poor  half  orphans,  sir." 

"You  have  exposed  me  to  the  ridicule  of  the  officers 
and  crew  of  the  vessel." 

"Never  be  ashamed  of  your  own,  sir,"  said  Jack. 

"The  captain  has  behaved  like  a  gentleman.  Look  at 
that  boat  conveying  the  vermin  to  the  shore.  It  is  a 
pleasant  sight." 

Mr.  Mole  sighed  deeply. 

"You're  a  gay  deceiver,  sir  ;  but  I  shouldn't  wonder  if 
Ambonia  followed  you  to  England. " 

"If  she  does,  I'll " 

Mr.  Mole  stopped  abruptly. 

It  did  not  exactly  occur  to  him  what  he  could  do  in 
the  event  of  such  an  unpleasant  contingency. 

Jack  did  not  worry  him  any  more,  though  he  had 
many  a  laugh  over  the  affair  with  Harvey. 


170  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  'S  AD  VEN  TURES 

The  ship  went  on  to  Singapore,  and  there  landed  the 
little  party. 

Monday  had  made  up  his  mind  to  go  to  England 

As  Jack  and  Mr.  Mole  were  the  richest,  they  drew 
bills  on  England,  and  got  them  discounted  to  pay  their 
expenses. 

Before  the  "Victor"  left,  they  made  the  captain  a 
handsome  present. 

Jack  took  care  of  Emily,  who,  now  her  father  and 
mother  were  dead,  was  a  penniless  orphan. 

They  all  lodged  at  the  same  hotel. 

Monday  insisted  on  being  Jack  and  Harvey's  servant, 
but  he  would  not  do  a  thing  for  Mr.  Mole. 

"He  one  humbug,  sare,  that  what  Mist'  Mole  is,"  he 
used  to  say. 

The  boys  secured  a  passage  to  England  in  a  fast  steamer, 
which  was  to  sail  in  a  few  days  after  taking  in  cargo. 

"Our  worries  are  all  over  now,  Dick,"  said  Jack, 
gleefully. 

"About  time  they  were,"  replied  Harvey. 


CHAPTER     XXXII. 

JACK     BECOMES     JEALOUS. 

WE  have  said  that  Emily  was  very  grateful  to  Jack  for 
all  he  had  done  for  her. 

Had  it  not  been  for  him  she  might  have  endured  an  in- 
tolerable captivity  among  the  pirates. 

She  might  even  have  been  compelled  to  become 
Hunston's  wife. 

It  was  not  much  she  could  do  in  return,  so  she  said. 

But  Jack  thought  it  a  great  deal. 

She  could  give  him  her  heart,  and  promise  to  be  his 
wife  some  day  when  he  was  a  man. 

"Whatever  shall  I  do,  Jack  dear,"  she  said,  "when  I 
get  back  to  England  ?  I  have  no  parents  now — no 
home. " 

His  eyes  filled  with  tears. 

"Stay  with  my  father  and  mother,  Emily,"  replied 
Jack.  "  They  will  make  you  happy  for  my  sake." 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  1 7 1 

e'Oh,  I  don't  like  to  do  that.     I'll  go  out  as  govern  ess." 

"You  shall  not,"  Jack  said,  emphatically.  "I  should 
like  to  see  anyone  bullying  my  darling.  You'll  stay  with 
us." 

"  If  you  think  your  friends  will  let  me " 

"I  know  they  will ;  so  don't  fret  about  that,  my  pet." 

"I  have  often  thought  lately,  Jack,"  she  exclaimed, 
"that  it  was  very  fortunate  you  were  among  the  sav- 
ages. " 

' '  We've  had  our  trials,  Emmy,  but  it  doesn't  matter  so 
long  as  we've  pulled  through,  does  it?" 

"  No,"  she  answered  ;  "  that  is  the  great  thing  :  and  I 
am  so  happy  to  know  that  you  love  me." 

Mr.  Mole  came  in  just  then,  and  interrupted  any  further 
conversation  of  a  private  nature. 

"  I'm  going  home  with  you,  Harkaway,"  he  said. 

"I  always  thought  you  were,  sir." 

"No  ;  I  had  it  in  my  mind  to  proceed  to  China,  but  1 
shall  sell  my  tea-garden." 

"Sell  it?  "replied  Jack. 

"As  soon  as  possible.  I  have  had  enough  of  savage 
life.  I  went  forth  'strange  countries  for  to  see,'  as  the 
song  has  it,  and  I  have  seen  enough  of  them." 

"  I  think  you  have  come  to  a  wise  determination,  Mr. 
Mole,"  said  Emily. 

"I  cannot  doubt  that  I  have,  my  dear,  if  you  say  so." 

"As  for  Harvey  and  myself,  we  shall  be  glad  to  have 
you  with  us, "  said  Jack. 

"My  idea,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole,  "is  to  go  to  some 
university  town." 

"Indeed!" 

"Yes;  I  am  fond  of  teaching,  and  I  shall  establish 
myself  as  a  private  tutor." 

"But  you  have  an  income?" 

' '  I  dare  say,  when  my  tea-garden  is  sold,  I  shall  have 
two  or  three  hundred  a  year.  Well,  with  that  and  the 
proceeds  of  my  teaching,  my  life  will  glide  calmly  on." 

"Capital,  sir,"  exclaimed  Jack. 

"Calmly  on,"  continued  Mr.  Mole,  "until  I  go  over  to 
the  majority,  which  means  the  greater  number,  or  those 
who  have  gone  before  to  their  everlasting  home. " 

"You  are  becoming  sentimental,  Mr.  Mole,"  remarked 
Emily. 


172  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  ADVENTURES 

"I  feel  so,  my  dear  young  lady.  When  a  man  has 
come  to  a  great  determination,  and  settled  a  crisis  in  his 
life,  he  ought  to  feel  happy." 

The  skipper  of  the  homeward-bound  sent  word  to  say 
that  his  ship  would  not  be  ready  to  sail  for'  at  least  three 
weeks. 

He  had  a  quantity  of  cargo  to  take  on  board,  and  this 
would  delay  his  start. 

There  was  nothing  for  it  but  to  make  themselves  as 
comfortable  as  possible  at  their  hotel. 

When  the  "Victor"  sailed,  Frank  Davis,  of  whom  we 
have  spoken  as  an  admirer  of  Emily,  remained  behind. 

His  father  was  a  rich  merchant. 

The  sea  air  had  done  him  good,  and  he  was  now  able 
to  stay  on  shore  and  resume  his  ordinary  duties.  Not 
that  he  did  much  work. 

He  would  stroll  down  to  the  counting-house  with  a  cigar 
in  his  mouth,  stay  for  an  hour  or  two,  and  then  go  away 
again. 

Frank  Davis  had  been  born  in  England,  though  most  of 
his  life  had  been  passed  in  Singapore. 

He  had  long,  dark  hair,  regular  features,  and  a  keen, 
flashing  eye. 

Altogether  he  was  not  bad  looking,  though  his  face 
wore  a  conceited  and  haughty  expression.  Jack  hated 
him. 

Having  made  acquaintance  with  our  little  party  on 
board  ship,  he  thought  himself  privileged  to  visit  them  at 
their  hotel,  which  he  did  very  frequently. 

He  talked  to  Mr.  Mole,  and  made  himself  very  agree- 
able to  Emily,  but  scarcely  condescended  to  speak  to 
Jack  and  Harvey. 

One  evening  he  had  been  for  more  than  an  hour  turn- 
ing over  Emily's  music  while  she  sang  and  played. 

Jack  was  biting  his  lips  with  vexation,  for  he  really 
loved  Emily,  and  did  not  like  to  see  her  encourage,  as  he 
thought,  this  comparative  stranger. 

At  length  she  rose  and  went  to  the  sofa. 

Jack  placed  himself  by  the  side  of  her  immediately. 

Davis  walked  up  to  Mr.  Mole,  and  began  to  talk  about 
the  higher  mathematics. 

"Emily,"  said  Jack,  "do  you  find  the  society  of  that 
fellow  Davis  so  very  entertaining  ?  " 


A  FLO  A  T  AND  ASHORE.  173 

"  He  praises  my  playing,  and  turns  my  music  for  me," 
answered  Emily. 

"Couldn't  I  do  the  same?  " 

' '  Of  course ;  only  you  and  Harvey  get  together  and 
talk  about  old  times,  and  never  come  near  me.  I  must 
talk  to  some  one.  What  am  I  to  do?  " 

"  I  thought  I  wasn't  wanted,"  said  Jack. 

"Nonsense  !  "  she  said,  with  a  musical  laugh.  "You're 
not  going  to  get  jealous  in  your  old  age." 

"I  am  jealous." 

"You  stupid  old  Jack.  You  deserve  that  I  should 
scold  you." 

"But  look  here,  haven't  you  been  going  on  anyhow 
with  that  ugly  brute,  Davis  ? "  asked  Jack. 

"I'm  sure  he  isn't  ugly,  and  he  knows  how  to  make 
himself  very  agreeable  to  the  ladies,"  replied  Emily,  who, 
like  all  pretty  women,  was  a  tyrant,  and  wished  to  tor- 
ment him  a  little. 

"That  is  as  much  as  to  say  I'm  not." 

"  No,  it  isn't." 

"And  you  like  him  best ?  Very  well ;  I'm  glad  you've 
told  me,"  said  Jack,  flushing  angrily. 

"Now,  Jack,  I  shall  be  very  cross  with  you  indeed,  if 
you  run  away  with  a  mistaken  idea  like  that,"  replied 
Emily. 

"All  right,  you  have  said  quite  enough,"  said  Jack, 
savagely. 

He  got  up  and  walked  away. 

"Dick,"  exclaimed  Emily,  appealing  to  Harvey. 

"What  is  it?  "asked  Dick. 

"Do,  please,  go  after  Jack.  He's  in  such  a  rage,  and 
I'm  afraid  there  will  be  a  quarrel  between  him  and — and 
Mr.  Davis." 

"Shouldn't  wonder  if  there  was,"  replied  Harvey. 

"Why?" 

"If  it  had  been  me,  I'd  have  punched  his  ugly  head 
long  ago." 

"I  haven't  done  anything  wrong,"  replied  Emily. 

' '  I  don't  know  about  wrong,"  replied  Harvey.  ' '  You've 
been  carrying  on  anyhow  with  that  fellow. " 

"  I  was  only  civil  to  him." 

'•I'm  Jack's  friend,  you  know,  Miss  Emily,"  continued 


1 74  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  V'S  AD  VENTURES 

Harvey,  "and  I  don't  like  to  see  him  made  a  fool  of. 
He's  awfully  fond  of  you." 

"So  am  I  of  him,"  she  said. 

"Well,  you  don't  go  the  right  way  to  show  it,"  Harvey 
answered  bluntly. 

"  Never  mind  ;  I  will  explain  all  to  Jack  presently,  only 
go  after  him,  will  you,  please,  and  tell  him  how  sorry  I 
am.  I  don't  want  a  quarrel.  Mr.  Davis  might  hurt  him." 

Harvey  laughed  scornfully. 

"  Hurt  him?     Hurt  Jack  !  "  he  said,  contemptuously. 

"Yes." 

"Why,  Jack  wouldn't  make  a  mouthful  of  him.  He's 
bigger  than  either  of  us,  but  I  should  be  sorry  if  his  face 
came  against  Jack's  fist.  Hurt  Jack  !  Not  much.  Don't 
fret  about  that. " 

"  Will  you  go  and  speak  to  Jack  ? "  urged  Emily. 

"If  you  wish  it,  though  I'd  rather  let  them  alone," 
replied  Harvey.  "Mr.  Merchant's  son  is  sure  to  get  a 
jolly  good  walloping. " 

"Very  well,"  said  Emily,  leaning  back;  "I  can  see 
you  are  both  against  me." 

"Let  them  alone,  I  tell  you,"  replied  Harvey.  "I 
know  what  Jack's  game  is." 

"What?" 

"  He  is  too  much  of  the  gentleman  to  have  a  row  in 
his  own  room,  with  a  fellow  who  is  his  guest." 

"I  hope  so,"  said  Emily  ;   "but  what  will  he  do?" 

"Oh,  square  him  up  somehow.  Let  them  alone," 
replied  Harvey. 

Frank  Davis  now  took  his  leave,  the  fact  being  that 
Mr.  Mole  rather  bored  him  with  cube  roots  and  one  thing 
and  another. 

Emily  rather  distantly  wished  him  good  night. 

She  had  not  intended  to  encourage  his  advances,  and 
wished  to  draw  back  as  soon  as  she  saw  Harkaway  was 
annoyed. 

A  little  way  from  the  hotel  Davis  met  Jack  and  said — 

"Good-night.     I  wondered  where  you  had  gone  to. " 

"I  came  out  here  to  speak  to  you,"  replied  Jack. 

' '  That  is  funny.  I  have  spent  the  evening  in  your  room, 
and  you  have  had  every  opportunity  of  talking  to  me." 

"  I  did  not  choose  to  talk  to  you  upstairs." 

"And  I    don't   choose   to   talk   to   you   in  the  street 


AFL OA  T  AND  ASHORE.  \ 75 

That's  the  difference,"  exclaimed  Davis,  in  his  usual 
sneering  manner. 

"  Excuse  me  ;  you  cannot  help  yourself." 

"Oh  !  but  I  can, "replied  Davis,  walking  on. 

Jack  ran  forward,  and  placed  himself  before  him. 

"Really,  Mr.  Harkaway,  this  is  very  strange  be* 
haviour/'said  Davis,  finding  himself  stopped. 

"Not  at  all." 

"Perhaps  you  have  lived  so  long  amongst  savages  that 
you  forget  how  to  behave  yourself  amongst  gentlemen." 

This  remark  stung  Jack. 

"I  simply  want  to  tell  you  that  I  wish  your  visits  to 
cease  at  my  hotel,"  he  said  ;  "that's  plain  enough." 

"I  don't  come  to  see  you,"  said  Davis  insolently. 

"That  is  a  remark  which  if  you  dare  to  repeat,  I  will 
knock  you  down  for,"  cried  Jack. 

"I  have  no  reason  to  say  it  again,"  replied  Davis, 
"since  you  have  heard  it  once,  and  seem  to  appreciate 
the  force  of  it" 

Jack's  fingers  itched  to  strike  him,  but  he  restrained 
himself. 

"Who  do  you  come  to  see?"  he  asked. 

"  Use  your  eyes,  and  you  will  find  out." 

Jack  felt  inclined  to  spring  upon  him,  but  at  that  mo- 
ment Monday  came  up. 

"What  do  you  want  ? "  he  asked. 

"  Mist'  Harvey,  him  send  me,  sare,"  replied  Monday  ; 
"him  think  you  want  me." 

"  So  I  do,"  replied  Jack. 

"  What  um  for,  sare?" 

"Kick  this  fellow  in  front  of  me.  I  won't  dirty  my 
hands  with  him  at  present." 

"  Mist'  Davis,  sare?  Kick  um  friend?"  said  Monday, 
in  surprise. 

"  He's  no  friend  of  mine.     Wire  in  !  " 

Davis  looked  alarmed. 

"  I  warn  you,"  he  said,  "that  if  this  black  fellow  touches 
me,  I  will  have  him  punished." 

"  You  can  do  your  little  worst,  my  boy,"  answered 
Jack,  adding,  "go  in,  Monday  ;  let  him  have  it." 

Monday  did  not  hesitate  any  longer. 

Jack's  word  was  law  to  him. 

He  administered  several  hearty  kicks  and  cuffs  to  Davis, 


176  JACK  HARK  A  WAY'S  AD  VENTURES 

who  ran  swiftly  up  the  street,  with  Jack's  derisive  laughter 
ringing  in  his  ears. 

"Monday  kick  him  well,  sare?  "  asked  the  black. 

"Beautiful!" 

"Urn  proper  kicks,  sare?  " 

"Lovely,  Monday.  I'll  buy  you  a  new  hat,"  replied 
Jack  still  laughing  heartily. 

The  way  in  which  the  dandified  merchant's  son  ran 
away  pleased  him  immensely. 

Returning  to  his  hotel,  he  found  Emily  had  gone  to  bed, 
saying  she  had  a  bad  headache. 

Mr.  Mole  and  Harvey  were  at  supper. 

Jack  joined  them  and  told  them  how  he  had  made 
Monday  treat  Davis. 

"Impetuous  as  usual,  Harkaway,"  said  Mr.  Mole. 
"Just  like  you." 

"  Why  shouldn't  I,  sir?  He  tried  to  spoon  on  Emily," 
replied  Jack. 

' '  She  should  have  snubbed  him.  You  were  wrong,  and 
it  is  unfortunate  just  now." 

"Why,  sir?"' 

"Because  we  have  been  put  up  for  election  at  the 
English  club,  of  which  Davis  is  a  member.  Two  black 
balls  in  the  ballot  exclude,  and  he  may  so  vote  and  in- 
fluence his  friends  as  to  get  us  shut  out" 

"I  didn't  think  of  that." 

"Of  course  you  didn't.  You  bull-at-a-gate  fellows 
never  do  think  of  consequences." 

"I  dare  say  we  shall  pull  through, sir, "remarked  Harvey. 

"  We  may ;  but  it  would  not  be  pleasant  during  the 
short  time  we  stay  here  to  be  shut  out  of  the  only  club  in 
the  place,  and  for  people  to  say  that  we  were  blackballed 
at  the  ballot.  You  really  should  think  of  these  things, 
Harkaway. " 

"I'm  not  a  bit  sorry  I  made  Monday  kick  him,"  Jack 
replied,  obstinately. 

"  It  would  not  have  been  so  bad  if  you  had  kicked  him 
yourself." 

"I  know  that,  and  that's  why  I  made  the  nigger  do 
it."  anwered  Jack. 

"  He  has  a  revengeful  face.  I  would  rather  have  him 
as  a  friend  than  an  enemy,"  said  Mr.  Mole. 

"He  can't  hurt  me." 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  1 7 7 

"  You  don't  know  that.  Never  make  an  enemy.  The 
mouse  once  helped  the  lion." 

"That's  a  fable,  sir,"  said  Jack. 

"  It  is,  but  we  often  see  it  exemplified  in  real  life." 

"  Bother  fables  !  "  exclaimed  Jack,  yawning. 

"That  young  man's  father  is  one  of  the  richest  mer- 
chants in  Singapore,"  continued  Mr.  Mole  ;  "  and  he  tells 
me  that  he  is  to  be  sent  shortly  to  England." 

"  Indeed?"  ejaculated  Jack. 

"  Yes  ;  he  is  to  go  to  a  university  to  complete  his  edu- 
cation. His  health  is  not  good,  and  it  is  thought  that  the 
climate  of  England  will  do  him  a  vast  deal  of  service. " 

"We've  enough  scamps  in  England  without  him,"  re- 
plied Jack. 

"Never  mind.  Take  my  advice,  and  don't  make  an 
enemy  of  the  young  man.  This  is  only  a  half-civilised 
place  after  all,  and  you  don't  know  what  he  might  be 
capable  of." 

"  I  only  know  one  thing,  sir,"  said  Jack. 

"What's  that?" 

' '  He  won't  stay  here  any  more ;  I've  put  the  kibosh 
on  that." 

"  My  dear  Harkaway " 

"My  dear  Mr.  Mole.  Good-night.  I'm  not  in  the 
humour  for  a  jaw,  and  I  shall  have  a  glass  at  the  bar,  and 
then  turn  into  my  virtuous  bug-walk." 

"  I  should  rather  call  it  mosquito-run,"  added  Mr.  Mole, 
with  a  smile.  "  But  good-night,  if  you  are  off.  Harvey 
and  I  will  finish  the  wine  over  a  game  at  crib.  Eh, 
Harvey, what  do  you  say?" 

"I  am  agreeable,  sir,"  replied  Harvey. 

Jack  left  them  to  themselves,  and  they  did  not  retire  till 
nearly  midnight 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

A  SCENE   AT  THE    ENGLISH   CLUB. 

THE  English  club  was  an  unpretending  building  near 
the  custom-house. 

Its  windows  overlooked  the  water  of  the  harbour,  which 
flowed  up  to  its  walls. 
i2 


1 78  JA  CK  HARK  A  WAY'S  AD  VENTURES 

All  the  Englishmen  and  the  Americans  in  Singapoie 
belonged  to  it ;  and  when  our  travellers  were  put  up  for 
election,  it  was  considered  as  a  compliment  which  the 
residents  wished  to  pay  them. 

Captain  Hammond,  of  the  "  Rangoon,"  the  steamer  in 
which  they  were  to  sail  for  England,  which  was  now 
taking  in  cargo,  had  put  them  up. 

They  were  influentially  seconded. 

On  the  morning  after  the  fracas  in  the  street  between 
Frank  Davis  and  Monday,  Jack  and  Harvey  walked  down 
to  the  club  to  ascertain  the  result  of  the  ballot. 

They  were  ushered  into  the  reading-room  of  the  club, 
which  was  also  the  smoking-room. 

Through  the  open  window  of  the  club  they  could  see 
the  shipping  in  the  harbour,  and  the  bright  sunbeams 
danced  gaily  over  the  water. 

Captain  Hammond  approached  Jack  and  said — 

"I  have  much  pleasure,  Mr.  Harka way,  in  informing 
you  that  you  and  your  friends  were  elected  members  of 
this  club  last  evening.  I  was  just  coming  to  your  hotel 
to  bring  you  the  news." 

"  Thank  you  very  much  for  your  kindness,  which  I  shall 
not  forget,  and  for  which  I  thank  you  on  behalf  of  myself 
and  friends,"  replied  Jack. 

"Your  friends  were  elected  without  opposition,  and 
you  had  only  one  blackball." 

"Indeed,"  said  Jack.  "I  wonder  who  could  have 
favoured  me  with  that  ?  My  stay  here  has  been  so  short 
that  I  was  not  aware  I  had  had  time  to  make  any  enemies. " 

Suddenly  he  thought  of  Frank  Davis. 

"Is  Mr.  Davis  r.  member  cf  your  club ? "  he  asked. 

"  Oh,  yes.  I  remember  thr.t  he  came  ir>.  last  night  just 
in  time  for  the  election,"  answered  Captain  Hammond. 

"In  that  case,  I  know  v/hcrc  to  look  for  my  enemy, 
though  I  care  very  little  for  the  malice  of  a  blackguard  " 

A  slight  cough  arrested  his  attention. 

Looking  up,  he  saw  Davis  sitting  on  the  ledge  of  one  of 
the  open  windows,  smoking  a  cigarette. 

Had  he  known  he  was  there,  he  would  not  have  spoken 
so  openly. 

The  attention  of  the  few  members  in  the  club-room  was 
called  by  this  speech  to  Davis. 

Looking  very  red  in  the  face,  the  latter  exclaimed — 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE. 


179 


"I  think  I  heard  my  name  mentioned?" 
"Yes,"  replied  Jack,  promptly.      "By  me." 
say  anvthii 


"  I  wish  you  would  say  anything  relating  to  me  in  my 
presence,  and  not  attack  me  behind  my  back,"  answered 
Davis. 

"I  am  perfectly  willing  to  repeat  what  I  said.  My  re- 
mark merely  had  reference  to  your  attempt  to  keep  me 
out  of  the  club  last  night." 

"If  I  chose  to  blackball  you,  I  only  exercised  my 
right.  I  have  no  wish  to  associate  myself  with  objection- 
able people.  But  was  that  all  you  said  ?  " 

"I  called  you  a  blackguard,  if  you  particularly  wish  to 
know,"  exclaimed  Jack,  boldly. 

"Gentlemen,  gentlemen,"  said  Captain  Hammond, 
"permit  me  to  remind  you  that  this  is  deplorably  bad 
taste." 

"Can't  help  it,  my  dear  sir,"  replied  Jack.  "It  is  his 
doing. " 

Frank  Davis  grew  very  pale,  and  bit  his  lip. 

"I  have  no  wish  to  create  a  scene, "he  said;  "but 
when  I  am  grossly  insulted  by  a  man  who  has  lived 
among  savages,  and  makes  a  friend  of  a  nigger,  I  really 
must  protect  myself." 

"Certainly,  certainly,"  observed  some  of  Davis's 
friends. 

Owing  to  his  father's  wealth  and  reputation,  Davis  was 
a  great  man  with  a  certain  set 

"Come  outside,  and  have  a  dust-up  with  fists,"  said 
Jack.  "Give  and  take  alike,  and  if  you  lick  me,  I'll  shake 
hands." 

"It  is  impossible,  sir,"  answered  Davis,  "that  I  could 
so  demean  myself.  If  I  fight,  I  use  the  weapons  of  a 
gentleman." 

"What  may  they  be ? " 

"Swords  or  pistols,  either  of  which  I  place  at  your  dis- 
posal," replied  Davis. 

"Gentlemen,  gentlemen,"  again  said  Captain  Ham> 
mond,  "I  really  must  beg  that  you  will  remember  wherf. 
you  are." 

"I  decline  your  challenge.  It  is  not  the  custom  ot 
Englishmen  to  fight  duels.  But  I  repeat,  that  if  you  want 
to  see  who  is  best  man,  I  am  ready  for  you  with  a  bunch 
of  fives,"  exclaimed  lack. 


l8o  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  'S  AD  VENTURES 

1 '  Just  what  I  might  have  expected  from  a  man  of  your 
stamp,"  answered  Davis,  with  one  of  his  most  offensive 
sneers. 

' '  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  asked  Jack. 

"Simply  that,  relying  on  your  natural  cowardice,  you 
think  you  can  insult  a  gentleman  with  impunity." 

"  Why,  you  ugly  little  whipper-snapper,  you  counter- 
jumping  land-lubber,  I've  a  good  mind  to  punch  your 
head,"  said  Jack,  indignantly. 

"Of  course.  Cowards  are  always  bullies.  But  vulgar 
abuse  only  lowers  you  still  more  in  my  eyes  ;  and  let  me 
tell  you,  my  blustering  friend,  that  I  shall  be  under  the 
painful  necessity  of  horsewhipping  you  in  public  if  you 
do  not  mind  what  you  are  saying." 

Jack  could  bear  this  no  longer. 

He  rushed  across  the  room,  regardless  of  clubs,  rules 
and  etiquette. 

Davis  was  still  sitting  in  the  open  window,  with  his 
back  to  the  water  of  the  harbour. 

Without  giving  him  any  notice,  he  struck  him  full  in 
the  face  with  his  fist. 

The  blow  caused  the  little  dandy  to  lose  his  balance, 
and  with  a  ludicrous  cry  of  rage  and  fear,  he  toppled  over, 
and  fell  with  a  splash  into  the  water. 

"  Hullo  ! "  exclaimed  Harvey,  as  he  disappeared, 
"  where  has  he  gone  to  ?  " 

"Kingdom  come,  I  hope,  "replied  Jack,  smiling  grimly. 

The  members  of  the  club  rushed  to  the  window  in  great 
excitement. 

Davis  was  seen  to  rise  to  the  surface,  and  shake  his  fist 
at  Jack. 

Then  he  swam  away  to  a  boat,  climbed  up  the  side, 
and  was  rowed,  dripping  wet,  to  the  shore. 

Jack  laughed  heartily ;  but  Captain  Hammond  looked 
grave. 

"This  will  have  to  be  brought  before  the  committee," 
he  said. 

"  What  will  the  result  of  that  be  ?  "  asked  Jack. 

"  I  fear  your  election  will  be  cancelled." 

"That  won't  break  my  heart,"  answered  Jack. 

"I  will  try  to  avoid  it,  because  that  little  wasp  Davis 
will  go  about  saying  you  were  kicked  out  of  the  club  for 
ungentlemanly  conduct." 


AfLOA T  AND  ASHORE.  iSl 

"  Was  it  ungentlemanly  ?  "  inquired  Jack,  thinking  the 
matter  over  for  the  first  time. 

Captain  Hammond  laughed. 

"Ask  yourself,"  he  said.  "That  sort  of  thing  would 
do  very  well  on  board  ship,  but  in  a  club,  my  dear  fellow, 
we  allow  no  wrangling." 

"Well,  good-morning.  I  am  much  obliged  to  you  all 
the  same, "  replied  Jack. 

He  made  a  stiff  bow  to  the  gentlemen  in  the  room,  who 
regarded  him  coldly. 

Some  acknowledged  his  salutation,  and  others  simply 
stared  rudely  at  him. 

As  he  passed  out  he  heard  such  remarks  as — 

"  Bull  in  a  china  shop. "  "  Uncultivated  boor. ''  "Turn 
the  club  into  a  bear-garden,"  etc. 

"Come  along,  Dick,"  he  exclaimed  to  Harvey.  "It 
appears  we're  not  good  enough  for  this  lot. " 

"They're  no  great  loss,"  answered  Harvey. 

With  a  defiant  air  they  left  the  club,  and  were  just 
in  time  to  see  Frank  Davis,  covered  with  mud,  wet 
through,  and  bareheaded,  get  into  a  carriage  to  be  driven 
home. 

His  face  wore  the  expression  of  a  demon. 

"I  say,  Jack,"  said  Harvey,  "mind  that  fellow  doesn't 
knife  you." 

"Not  he,"  replied  Jack.  "The  beggar  hasn't  pluck 
enough  to  come  within  a  mile  of  me." 

The  boys  strolled  about  for  some  hours,  visited  several 
of  the  ships  in  harbour,  and  at  length  returned  to  the  hotel 
to  dinner. 

"  A  note  for  you  from  the  English  club,  Harkaway," 
exclaimed  Mr.  Mole. 

"Read  it,  sir,  if  you  please,"  replied  Jack. 

Mr.  Mole  did  so. 

"Dear  me,"  he  said.  "It  is  a  notice  from  the  commit- 
tee stating  that,  owing  to  your  conduct  this  morning,  the 
committee  feel  bound  to  censure  you  strongly  ;  but  on  a 
vote  being  taken,  it  was  decided  to  retain  your  name  on 
the  books  by  a  majority  of  one." 

"I'm  glad  of  that,"  answered  Jack  ;  "  because  if  I  had 
been  expelled,  it  would  have  been  a  triumph  for  that  fel- 
low Davis." 

"What  have  you  been  doing? "  asked  Mr.  Mole. 


182  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"  Only  punching,  sir.  Knocking  this  cove  Davis  into 
the  sea  for  cheeking  me." 

"Ah  1  that  is  bad.  What  a  pity  you  cannot  keep  your 
righting  propensities  in  check,  but  you  always  had  too 
much  of  the  bull-dog  in  you. " 

"Can't  help  it,  sir,"  answered  Jack.  "It's  the  nature 
of  the  animal." 

"You  seem  to  have  a  great  spite  against  Mr.  Davis." 

"It's  his  fault.  Oh  !  here's  Emily.  First  time  I've  seen 
her  to-day,"  exclaimed  Jack.  "Emmy  dear,  I'm  sorry  to 
say  I've  been  slipping  into  your  friend." 

"What  friend?"  asked  Emily. 

"Mr.  Frank  Davis." 

"He's  no  friend  of  mine.  I  merely  regarded  him  as 
an  acquaintance  of  yours,"  she  answered. 

"Don't  tell  fibs,  Emmy.     You  know  you  like  him." 

Emily  began  to  cry. 

"  If  you  are  going  to  treat  me  so  cruelly/'  she  sobbed, 
"I  shall  go  upstairs  again.  I'm  sure  I  did  not  put  myself 
out  of  the  way  to  be  civil  to  him.  You  would  not,  I 
thought,  like  me  to  be  rude  to  your  guests." 

Jack's  heart  melted  in  a  moment. 

Springing  to  her  side,  he  kissed  her  tears  away,  and 
said — 

"Don't  cry,  darling.  Say  you  forgive  me,  and  I'll 
never  be  naughty  again." 

"  It's  a  great  shame  of  you,"  she  replied. 

"So  'tis.  I'm  a  beast,  but  that  stuck-up,  sneering  cad 
riled  me.  I  couldn't  stand  it  any  longer,  so  I  mauled  him 
about  a  bit." 

"I  shouldn't  care  if— if  you  kil — killed  him,"  Emily 
answered  continuing  to  sob,  "  if — if  you  were  not  so  un- 
kind to  me." 

It  was  some  time  before  Jack  could  make  his  peace 
with  her,  but  at  last  he  succeeded  and  they  were  better 
friends  than  ever. 

Emily  wiped  away  her  tears.  Dinner  was  brought  up  ; 
they  all  sat  down,  and  as  if  by  common  consent,  Mr. 
Davis's  name  was  never  once  mentioned,  and  no  allusion 
was  made  to  the  disturbance  at  the  club. 

After  dinner  the  gentlemen  lighted  their  cigarettes,  and 
Emily  took  up  a  book  to  read. 

Suddenly  Monday  burst  into  the  room  out  of  breath. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  183 

"What's  up  now,  Monday?"  cried  Jack.  "You'll 
bust  up  if  you  waste  your  wind  like  that." 

"Take  your  hat  off,"  said  Harvey,  removing  his  broad- 
brimmed  Panama  straw.  "Why  don't  you  learn  decent 
manners  ? " 

"I  should  think  there  was  going  to  be  a  donkey-race 
to-morrow,"  remarked  Dick. 

"Where?  "  asked  Harvey. 

"All  round  Monday's  hat.  Sold  again.  I  had  you 
then,  Dick,"  replied  Jack,  laughing. 

Monday  now  found  his  tongue. 

"Oh!  Mast' Jack,"  he  exclaimed,  "such  um  big  fire 
down  street." 

"  A  fire  !  "  cried  the  boys,  jumping  to  their  feet. 

"  Yes,  a  big  one.  All  the  houses  crackle  and  burn  ever 
much  so.  Come  on,  sare,  and  see  um  fun." 

"By  Jove  !  I'm  in  that,"  exclaimed  Jack,  putting  on  his 
hat. 

His  example  was  followed  by  Harvey. 

"And  I,  too,"  said  Mr.  Mole.  "I  will  accompany  you 
to  the  scene  of  the  conflagration.  Perhaps  with  my  usual 
bravery  I  may  be  instrumental  in  saving  some  poor 
creature's  life." 

Before  he  had  finished  speaking,  the  boys  were  out  of 
the  room. 

They  followed  Monday  down  the  street,  and  were  soon 
in  the  midst  of  a  great  crowd. 

Smoke  rose  in  dense  masses,  and  sparks  fell  around  in 
all  directions. 

Some  wooden  buildings  used  as  warehouses  were  in 
flames. 

How  they  had  caught  fire  no  one  knew. 

The  firemen  had  already  brought  up  their  hand-engines, 
and  were  busily  engaged  in  laying  the  hose,  and  getting 
to  work. 

"Man  the  pumps, "  shouted  Jack,  pushing  his  way  to 
the  front. 

He  laid  hold  of  the  handle  of  the  nearest  engine,  which 
was  speedily  manned. 

Harvey  seized  the  hose,  and  directed  it  against  the 
burning  building. 

A  plentiful  supply  of  water  was  secured  from  the  har- 
bour, which  was  not  far  off. 


184  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  ADVENTURES 

The  crowd  took  Jack  and  Harvey  for  British  officers, 
owing  to  their  uniforms,  and  having  a  great  respect  for 
the  English,  they  let  them  do  just  as  they  liked. 

A  small  tree  grew  near  one  of  the  houses,  but  sufficient- 
ly distant  to  be  safe  from  the  effects  of  the  fire. 

Mr.  Mole  espied  this,  and  with  difficulty  climbed  up, 
sitting  astride  one  of  the  branches. 

"This  is  capital,"  he  said  to  himself,  as  he  rubbed  his 
hands.  "I  shall  have  a  good  view  here,  and  be  out  of 
the  crowd.  Harkaway  will  not  know  where  I  am,  and  I 
can  say  I  bore  an  active  part  in  extinguishing  this  dread- 
ful fire." 

The  houses,  being  made  of  wood,  burnt  fiercely,  and  in 
spite  of  the  torrents  of  water  poured  upon  them,  they  were 
speedily  destroyed. 

Fortunately,  they  were  nearly  empty  at  the  time  of  the 
fire  ;  had  they  been  full  of  goods,  the  result  would  have 
been  much  more  disastrous. 

Jack  worked  at  the  pumps  like  a  nigger,  and  at  length 
left  off  from  sheer  fatigue. 

The  fire  was  nearly  out  now,  and  had  been  prevented 
from  extending  any  further  on  either  side. 

Looking  around  him,  Jack  perceived  Harvey  guiding 
the  hose  as  if  he  had  been  born  a  fireman. 

"I  say,  Dick,"  he  said,  stretching  his  limbs,  "you  got 
a  better  berth  than  I  did. " 

'Talent,  sir,  talent,"  replied  Harvey. 
'  Hullo  !  "  exclaimed  Jack  ;  "there's  some  one  who  has 
got  a  better  berth  than  either  of  us." 
Who?" 
'Old  Mole." 

'  Where  is  he  ? "  asked  Harvey. 
'  Up  that  tree.     Pump  on  him,"  said  Jack. 

Harvey  looked  round  and  saw  Mr.  Mole  serenely  perched 
up  in  the  tree,  and  half  hidden  by  the  leaves. 

In  an  instant  he  diverted  the  hose  from  the  burning 
building. 

It  did  not  much  matter  now  as  half-a-dozen  engines 
were  at  work  on  it,  and  the  fire  was  nearly  over. 

"Mind  your  eye,  sir;  the  tree's  on  fire,"  shouted 
Harvey. 

The  next  moment  a  shower  of  water  fell  like  a  deluge 
on  Mr.  Mole. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  185 

In  his  eyes,  his  mouth,  knocking  of  his  hat,  in  his 
stomach,  filling  his  trousers  and  boots,  came  the  unceas- 
ing stream. 

"  Wo  !  "  he  cried.  "I  say,  Harvey,  I  am  up  in  this 
tree" — splutter,  splutter — "  you'll  choke  me.  I  shall  be 
drowned.  Ho,  ho!  I  say,  stop  that  performance." 

But  Harvey  continued  to  water  him  as  if  he  was 
syringing  a  plant  in  a  green  house. 

"Go  it,  Dick.     Give  it  him  hot,"  said  Jack. 

"This  is  unseemly.  Bother  those  boys!" — splutter, 
splutter — stammered  Mr.  Mole.  "They'll  be  the  death 
of  me  before  they've  done  ;  I  know  they  will.  Ugh  !  I'm 
half  full  of  water  already,  and  nearly  drowned." 

The  cascade  played  gracefully  upon  him. 

Much  amused,  the  crowd  looked  up  and  began  to 
laugh. 

Mr.  Mole  could  bear  it  no  longer,  and  toppled  off  the 
branch,  falling  on  the  heads  of  the  crowd  below. 

This  fortunately  broke  his  fall,  and  he  was  only  a  little 
shaken. 

Rushing  up  to  Harvey,  he  shook  his  fist  in  his  face. 

"  You  scamp  !"  he  exclaimed.  "What  do  you  mean 
by  this  ? " 

Harvey  said — 

"Sorry  to  knock  you  off  your  perch,  sir.  Mind  you! 
eye,  again." 

He  lifted  the  hose,  and  sent  another  jet  right  into  his 
face. 

In  vain  Mr.  Mole  capered  and  danced  and  tried  to  hit 
him. 

The  water  drove  him  back,  and  he  turned  tail,  running 
away  to  his  hotel. 

"Well  done,  Dick.     Wire  in,  old  man,"  cried  Jack. 

Suddenly  Monday  touched  Jack  on  the  shoulder. 

"  Mast'  Jack,"  he  said  in  a  thrilling  whisper,  "  you  take 
care !  " 

"What  of?  "asked  Jack. 

"  Mist'  Davis  close  by.  He  speak  to  one  man,  and  him 
a  big  scoundrel." 

"  What  did  he  say  ?  "  inquired  Jack. 

Instead  of  answering,  Monday  turned  rapidly  round. 

At  the  same  moment  a  knife  glided  up  Jack's  arm,  and 
he  felt  the  hot  blood  slowly  trickle  down  his  sleeve. 


l36  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  ADVENTURES 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

THE    HIDDEN    HAND. 

"I'M  wounded !"  cried  Jack,  clutching  his  arm  as  a 
trickling  sensation  ran  through  it. 

Turning  round,  he  saw  Monday  struggling  with  an  ugly- 
looking  native,  who,  with  a  jerk  of  his  leg,  threw  Monday 
off,  and  ran  away,  being  speedily  lost  in  the  crowd. 

Having  heard  Jack  say  he  was  stabbed  Harvey  came 
up  at  once. 

"I  hope  you  are  not  hurt?"  he  exclaimed,  anxiously, 

"  Not  much,  I  think,"  answered  Jack,  "though  I  be- 
lieve the  fellow  tried  to  get  at  my  heart  with  his  bread-and- 
cheese  cutter.  Where's  Monday  ? " 

"Here  him  be,  sare,"said  the  faithful  fellow. 

"What  does  all  this  mean?"  quickly  inquired  Jack. 

"  Monday  him  hear  Mist'  Davis  point  you  out,  sare,  to 
that  black  thief,  and  just  when  I  speak  to  you,  him  whip 
out  um  knife  to  stick  with. " 

"Ah,  I  see  ;  you  turned  the  blow  ?  " 

"  Monday  seize  him  arm,  sare,  and  turn  him  off.  Don't 
know  how  he  got  away.  Some  twist  him  give  with  um 
leg." 

"  Perhaps  you've  saved  my  life,"  said  Jack.  "I  didn't 
think  Mr.  Davis  was  one  of  that  sort." 

"But  I  did,"  answered  Harvey.  "Lean  on  me,  and 
let  us  find  a  doctor.  You  must  have  your  arm  seen  to." 

With  some  difficulty  they  found  a  doctor,  who  happened 
to  be  an  Englishman. 

He  examined  the  wound,  and  said — 

"Where  did  you  get  this,  young  gentleman  ?" 

Jack  told  him  it  was  done  in  a  scrimmage  at  the  fire. 

"Ah!"  replied  the  doctor,  "such  things  are  not  un- 
common hereabouts  ;  and  if,  sailor  fashion,  you  will  go  in 
for  free  fights,  you  must  take  the  consequences.  My  ad- 
vice is,  keep  out  of  them." 

"I  will  in  future,"  answered  Jack.  "Is  it  anything 
serious  ? " 

"No,    it  is  not.     I  find  it  is  merely  a  flesh  wound  ;  just 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  187 

a  rip  of  the  skin.  You  have  had  what  we  should  have 
called  a  shave,  when  I  was  a  medical  student  at  Guy's." 

"  I'm  the  luckiest  dog  out,"  exclaimed  Jack,  joyfully. 
"Always  drop  on  my  legs,  don't  I,  Dick?  " 

"  I  must  say  you  certainly  do,"  answered  Harvey. 

When  the  wound  was  washed  and  strapped  up,  they 
went  back  to  the  hotel.  Jack  experienced  nothing  more 
than  a  slight  weakness,  with  some  smarting  stiffness  in 
the  arm. 

Mr.  Mole  was  sitting  before  a  big  fire,  huddled  up  in  a 
thick  dressing-gown. 

A  tumbler  of  steaming  grog  stood  before  him,  and  he 
had  his  feet  in  a  pan  of  hot  water. 

' '  What  on  earth  are  you  doing,  sir  ?  "  said  Jack. 

"  Enjoying  the  comforts  of  civilization,  of  which  I  have 
been  deprived  for  some  time,"  replied  Mr.  Mole. 

"  But  a  fire  in  the  tropics,  when  it  is  hot  enough  to 
melt  an  iceberg  in  three  minutes " 

"  Is  necessary  for  the  preservation  of  my  health.  I 
have  been  shamefully  treated,  and  already  feel  bronchitis 
fastening  upon  my  chest." 

"  The  ducking  will  cool  you,  sir,"  Jack  said,  laughing. 

"  It  has  done  so.  Can  you  find  me  a  tallow  candle,  to 
tallow  my  nose  with?  " 

"  I  don't  suppose  you'd  get  such  a  thing  here,  sir. 
Candles  all  melt.  Try  some  soft  soap." 

"  Harkaway,  no  joking;  this  is  serious.  Where's  Har- 
vey, the  wretch  ?  If  I  were  not  so  ill,  I  would  chastise 
him  for  his  cruel  joke." 

"  I  am  here,  sir,"  answered  Harvey.  "  Glad  to  see 
you're  not  dead  yet." 

"  No  thanks  to  you,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  severely  ;  "  you 
see  the  wretched  state  you've  reduced  me  to.  Dreadful 
cold  coming  on — come  on,  in  fact — and  no  candle  to  tallow 
my  nose  with.  Awful  !  " 

The  boys  could  not  help  laughing. 

Mr.  Mole  perceived  that  Harkaway  carried  his  arm  in 
a  sling. 

"  What's  the  matter  ?  "  he  inquired.  "  Nothing  much,  I 
hope. " 

"  Oh,  nothing  half  so  bad  as  your  cold,  sir,''  answered 
Jack,  carelessly  ;  "  only  a  stab  in  the  arm." 

41  A  stab  ?     Dear  me  !     Who  did  it  ?  " 


188  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"  Davis  hired  a  fellow  to  knife  me  out  of  the  way.  It 
appears  to  be  the  custom  out  here.  Nice  sort  of  a  place 
to  live  in,  isn't  it,  sir?  " 

"  Dear  me,  how  quietly  you  take  it.  Bless  my  soul,  is 
there  not  some  sort  of  justice  here  ? " 

' '  Perhaps,  yes  ;  perhaps,  no.     But  where 's  Emily  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know.  She  was  not  here  when  I  came  in, 
and  I  have  been  so  much  taken  up  with  my  cold  that " 

"  Bother  your  cold.     Ring  the  bell,  Dick/'  cried  Jack. 

"  Impulsive  youths,"  remarked  Mr.  Mole,  "  are  like 
obstinate  mules ;  they  will  have  their  own  way." 

Harvey  rang  the  bell,  and  Jack  questioned  the  servants 
about  Emily. 

One  said  he  saw  her  go  to  the  door  to  look  at  the  fire, 
and  wh;le  standing  there  a  man  came  up  and  requested 
her  to  come  to  Mr.  Harkaway,  who  wanted  her. 

Jack  turned  deadly  pale. 

"  I  never  sent  for  her,"  he  said. 

"  She  went  a  little  way  down  the  street,  sir,  and  then 
I  saw  her  get  into  a  carriage,  which  drove  off  at  a  rapid 
pace,"  continued  the  domestic. 

Jack  sank  into  a  seat  faint  and  ill. 

"  It's  a  trap,"  exclaimed  Harvey. 

"  Brandy,"  cried  Jack  ;  "  give  me  some  brandy." 

"  His  request  was  complied  with,  and  he  freshened  up 
a  little. 

"Who  has  done  this  base  thing?"  asked  Mr.  Mole. 
"Who  can  have  carried  off  our  little  Emily,  the  life  and  soul 
of  our  party  ?  " 

"  There  is  only  one  man  in  Singapore,"  replied  Harvey, 
"  who  could  have  done  it." 

"  And  he  is " 

"  Frank  Davis." 

Jack  was  too  agitated  to  speak. 

"  It  is  all  part  of  a  planned  thing,"  continued  Harvey. 
"  Davis  is  in  love  with  Emily — Jack  insults  him ;  he  ar- 
ranges to  have  Jack  assassinated,  and  at  the  same  time 
carry  off  Emily." 

"  I  fear  you  are  not  fat  wrong,"  said  Mr.  Mole. 

Jack  got  up  and  paced  the  room  impatiently. 

"  Call  Monday,"  he  said. 

Harvey  went  into  the  hall,  and  sent  for  the  faithful 
Linabian. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  ^9 

When  he  entered  the  room  he  saw  at  a  glance  that 
something  had  happened. 

"  You  taken  worse,  Mast'  Jack?  "  he  said. 

"  Look  here,  Monday,  you  must  do  me  a  service,"  said 
Jack. 

"  Monday  lay  down  um  life,  sare.  Can't  say  any 
more." 

"  I  know  that,  and  perhaps  you  will  have  to  risk  your 
life.  Miss  Emily  has  been  carried  off,  we  expect,  by 
Davis." 

"  Missey  Emily  gone,  sare?  " 

"  Yes  ;  not  an  hour  ago." 

"  Where  she  go  to,  sare  ?  "  asked  Monday. 

"  That  we  can  only  guess.  I  have  heard  that  Mr. 
Davis's  father  has  a  house  a  few  miles  inland,  which  he 
very  seldom  uses.  Find  out  where  that  is  ;  go  there  at 
once,  and  bring  us  what  news  you  can." 

"  Monday  him  go  now,  sare.  He  find  the  Missey 
Emily." 

"  Take  off  those  togs,  and  go  about  as  if  you  were  a 
native  of  this  place.  You  will  attract  less  attention,"  said 
Harvey. 

"  A  good  suggestion,"  remarked  Mr.  Mole.  "  I  forgive 
you  now  for  pumping  upon  me,  Harvey,  I  do  indeed,  and 
pardon  you  freely,  for  your  cleverness." 

"I  thank  you,  sir;  I'll  make  a  note  of  it,"  answered 
Harvey. 

"  Off  you  go,  Monday,"  continued  Jack,  "  and  mind  you 
don't  come  back  without  news  of  some  sort." 

Monday  nodded,  and  started  on  his  errand. 

Turning  to  Harvey,  Jack  said — 

"  You  and  I  will  work  the  city.  If  I  could  only  catch 
that  cowardly  hound  Davis,  I'd  wring  the  secret  out  of 
him  somehow." 

"  Perhaps,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  "it  is  not  Mr.  Davis  after 
all." 

' '  Who  else  can  it  be  ?  "  replied  Jack. 

Puzzled  at  this  question,  Mr.  Mole  was  unable  to  give 
any  answer. 

"  If  I  were  not  so  ill  I  would  accompany  you,"  he  re- 
marked. "  You  must  take  the  wish  for  the  deed." 

Harvey  was  as  much  concerned  as  his  friend,  and  he 
gladly  accompanied  him  on  his  vovas^e  of  discovery. 


igo  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"  Let's  go  to  the  club  first,"  said  Dick.  "  We  may  see 
or  hear  something  of  Davis  there." 

A  short  walk  brought  them  to  the  club,  where  they 
found  several  people  they  did  not  know  talking  about  the 
fire. 

In  a  small  community  like  that  of  Singapore  a  fire  is  an 
event  of  importance. 

Talking  to  some  friends.  Jack  saw  Frank  Davis,  who  did 
not  seem  any  the  worse  for  his  immersion. 

With  some  difficulty  he  restrained  himself  from  rushing 
up  to  him. 

The  folly  of  such  a  proceeding  occurred  to  him,  and  he 
fortunately  drove  back  the  wild  beast  feeling  that  will 
take  possession  of  all  of  us  at  times. 

"  Watch  him,"  whispered  Harvey.  "  We  can  always 
follow  him  when  he  attempts  to  go." 

To  Jack's  intense  surprise,  Davis  no  sooner  saw  him 
than  he  walked  up,  and  extending  his  hand  before  every- 
body, exclaimed — 

"  Will  you  shake  hands  with  me,  Mr.  Harkaway?" 

"  With  you  ?  "  replied  Jack. 

"  Yes  ;  I  was  a  little  hasty  this  morning,  and  provoked 
you.  I  am  willing  to  forgive  that  disagreeable  shove  you 
gave  me  into  the  water,  for  I  can't  bear  malice." 

The  members  of  the  club  were  much  interested  in  this 
scene. 

"Capital  fellow!"  "Good  heart!"  "  Always  said 
so,"  and  so  on  arose  from  various  quarters. 

"  I  would  rather  not  make  friends  with  you,"  said  Jack. 

"  Come,  come,  don't  cherish  a  nasty  feeling.  You  a 
sailor,  Harkaway,  and  treasure  up  a  grudge  !  "  exclaimed 
Captain  Hammond  in  his  cheery  voice. 

"  I  have  my  reasons,"  said  Jack. 

"  I  am  sure  they  can't  be  very  good  ones." 

"  I'm  the  best  judge  of  that,"  Jack  exclaimed,   dryly. 

"  Well,  you  must  please  yourself,  Mr.  Harkaway,"  con- 
tinued Frank  Davis,  with  an  apparently  open  smile.  "  I 
have  made  the  advance,  which  there  was  no  occasion  I 
should  do,  I'm  sure ;  but  we  have  been  friends  and  trav- 
elled together,  so  that  I  can  afford  to  put  a  little  ill-feeling 
in  my  pocket.  Have  you  hurt  your  arm — dear  me  !  I 
did  not  notice  that  you  wore  it  in  a  sling." 

Jack  was  confounded  at  his  cool  impudence. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  191 

"  I  was  stabbed  in  the  crowd  at  the  fire,"  he  said,  look- 
ing Davis  straight  in  the  face. 

The  latter  did  not  quail  or  flinch  in  the  least.  He  bore 
the  scrutiny  without  so  much  as  lowering  his  eyes. 

"  He's  got  the  nerve  of  old  Nick  himself, "  thought  Jack. 

"Stabbed!"  repeated  Davis,  incredulously.  "Now 
you  are  drawing  upon  your  imagination." 

"  I  am  telling  the  plain  truth  without  any  varnish," 
answered  Jack. 

Many  gentlemen  crowded  round  him,  and  pressed  him 
with  a  dozen  questions,  to  all  of  which  Jack  replied — 

"  Ask  Mr.  Davis.  He  pretends  to  be  ignorant  of  an 
attack  which  was  directed  at  my  life,  when  he  knows 
more  about  it  than  I  do." 

Eyes  were  turned  inquiringly  at  Davis. 

"  Really,  gentlemen,"  he  exclaimed,  "  Mr.  Harkaway 
is  an  enigma  to  me,  and  I  am  at  loss  to  a  understand  his 
meaning." 

"  He  insinuates  that  you  tried  to  assassinate  him,"  ex-, 
claimed  one  gentleman. 

"No,  I  don't  insinuate  anything,"  answered  Jack.  "  I 
say  openly  that  he  hired  a  man  to  kill  me,  and  I  can 
prove  it" 

"How?" 

"  By  the  testimony  of  my  black  servant  who  saw  him 
in  the  crowd,  and  heard  him  point  me  out  to  the  ruffian 
in  his  pay." 

Frank  Davis  turned  away  with  a  laugh. 

"Is  he  drunk?  "  he  exclaimed. 

1 '  I'm  as  sober  as  you  are,  perhaps  more  so, "  replied 
Jack,  furiously;  "and  in  spite  of  your  sneers,  I'll  un- 
mask you  yet." 

"Gentlemen,"  said  Frank  Davis,  appealing  to  the 
members  of  the  club,  "  I  have  tried  to  soothe  the  savage 
breast.  What  can  I  do  more?" 

"No,  no;  let  him  alone.  Give  him  up,'7  said  his 
friends.  "  He  must  be  mad." 

What  Jack  would  have  said  or  done  it  is  difficult  to 
say,  had  not  Captain  Hammond  seized  him  by  the  arm 
and  drawn  him  towards  the  door. 

"  Let  go  my  arm,"  said  Jack,  struggling. 

"No,  I  will  not  There  will  be  a  riot  presently  if  you 
stop." 


a  92  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  'S  AD  VENTURES 

"What  if  there  is?" 

"'Every  man  in  the  club  except  myself  is  against  you. 
Come  along,"  persisted  Captain  Hammond. 

"I  will  not  go  to  let  that  fellow  have  the  best  of  me," 
said  Jack. 

"You  shall.  Come,  come,  I  am  a  man,  and  you  are 
only  a  boy  after  all.  I  will  have  my  own  way  in  this 
instance, "  Captain  Hammond  said  good-naturedly. 

"That  is  right.  Get  him  away.  Our  time  will  come," 
remarked  Harvey. 

He  was  not  blinded  with  passion  and  a  sense  of  wrong 
as  Jack  was,  and  he  saw  that  it  would  be  of  no  use  to 
have  a  row  in  the  club  just  then. 

By  the  exercise  of  main  force,  Captain  Hammond 
drew  Jack  out  of  the  room. 

Presently  they  stood  in  the  street,  Jack  panting  and 
glaring  fiercely  at  his  friend. 

"Well,"  laughed  the  captain,  "are  you  going  to  eat 
me  ? " 

Jack  said  nothing. 

"Come,  that's  better.  I  thought  you  were  going  to 
make  a  meal  off  me.  Take  a  stroll  and  let  us  talk  the 
matter  over." 

As  Jack  hesitated,  Harvey  said — 

"Do,  there's  a  good  fellow.  Captain  Hammond's 
advice  is  sensible  I  feel  sure." 

Jack  put  his  uninjured  arm  in  that  of  the  captain's. 

Harvey  took  the  other  side,  and  they  walked  up  the 
quay. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

MONDAY   AND   THE    BLOODHOUND. 

IT  was  not  difficult  for  Monday  to  discover  the  locality 
in  which  Mr.  Davis's  country  house  was  situated. 

But  when  he  heard  that  he  possessed  two,  it  was  not 
easy  to  decide  which  to  go  to. 

The  idea  which  had  struck  Jack  was  that  Frank  Davi* 
had  carried  off  Emily  to  a  country  residence,  where  by 
threats  and  confinement  he  would  try  to  induce  her  t» 
marry  him. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  193 

If  he  had  succeeded  in  his  attempt  to  assassinate  Jack, 

his  task  would  have  been  easier. 

Mr.  Mole  would  not  have  occupied  himself  much 
about  Emily,  and  it  was  doubtful  whether  Harvey  would 
have  done  more  than  communicate  with  the  authorities 
about  the  affair. 

When  Monday,  who  thoroughly  endorsed  his  master's 
idea,  heard  that  one  of  Mr.  Davis's  houses  was  situated 
in  a  lonely  place  and  seldom  or  ever  inhabited,  he  con- 
cluded that  it  was  very  likely  Frank  had  caused  her  to 
be  conveyed  there. 

It  was  late  in  the  day  when  he  had  gathered  all  the 
information  he  wanted,  but  he  did  not  hesitate  to  start 
at  once  and  on  foot,  for  the  house. 

The  moon  was  shining  brightly  when  he  reached  it, 
and  saw  a  small,  one-storied,  pavilion-like  house,  sur- 
rounded with  those  verandahs  so  common  in  the  east. 

Gardens  rilled  with  lovely  flowers  and  shrubs  environed 
it,  except  at  the  back,  where  were  built  the  stable  and 
domestic  offices. 

Penetrating  through  the  gardens,  Monday  cautiously 
advanced  to  the  house. 

A  window  in  the  Venetian  style  opened  on  to  the 
lawn,  and  a  light  burning  on  a  table  enabled  him  to  look 
inside. 

Lying  on  a  sofa,  bathed  in  tears,  with  her  hair  hang- 
ing loosely  over  her  shoulders  he  saw  Emily,  who  was 
evidently  plunged  into  the  depths  of  despair,  and  over- 
whelmed with  grief. 

He  was  about  to  rush  forward,  when  he  found  the 
window  was  carefully  guarded  with  thick  iron  bars, 
which,  while  permitting  the  cool  evening  air  to  enter, 
effectually  prevented  anyone  going  in  or  out. 

Advancing  cautiously  to  the  bars,  Monday  said  in  a 
low  voice — 

"Missey  Emily,  Missey  Emily." 

The  girl  started,  and  rising,  looked  eagerly  towards  him. 
"Is  it  you,  Monday?"  she  cried.  "Oh,  I  am  so 
glad.  Where  am  I  ?  " 

"  You  not  know  ?  "  asked  Monday,  in  surprise. 

"  No.  I  have  not  the  remotest  idea.  All  I  am  aware 
of  is  that  I  was  induced  to  go  down  the  street  to  meet 
Jack,  thrust  into  a  carriage,  driven  off  at  a  gallop,  taken 
'3 


194  fA  t  Ji  HARK  A  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

here  and  put  into  this  room,  where  I  have  only  seen  an 
old  n  egress." 

"This  is  Mist'  Da  vis's  house,"  said  Monday. 

"Then  it  is  he  who  has  carried  me  oft  Does  Jack 
know  this?  " 

"  Him  suspect  it,  Missey  Emily,  and  he  send  me  to 
find  out." 

"Where  is  he  now?"  she  inquired. 

"In  Singapore;  but  he  soon  come  take  you  out," 
answered  Monday. 

"Oh,  pray  lose  no  time,  but  go  at  once.  I  am  so 
frightened." 

"Monday  go  now,  Missey  Emily.  Before  to-morrow 
morning  she  get  'way." 

Emily  thanked  him  heartily. 

"  Keep  up  your  pluck,  missey ;  all  be  right  soon,"  said 
Monday. 

He  retired  as  cautiously  as  he  came,  and  reaching  the 
extremity  of  the  garden  jumped  over  the  wooden  fence, 
alighting  in  the  road. 

He  was  much  pleased  with  his  success,  and  prepared 
for  a  sharp  run  home. 

All  at  once  the  sound  of  horse's  hoofs  fell  upon  his 
ears,  and  by  the  moonlight  he  saw  a  man  on  horseback, 
followed  by  a  big  dog  of  the  bloodhound  species,  ap- 
proaching him. 

His  sharp  eyes  enabled  him  to  recognise  Frank  Davis. 

But  the  recognition  was  not  mutual. 

Stripped  to  the  skin  like  an  ordinary  native,  Monday 
appeared  to  Frank  to  be  some  prowling  robber. 

"  Hilloo,  you  black  thief,  what  are  you  doing  here  at 
this  time  of  night  ?  "  he  exclaimed. 

"Do?  Nothing,  sare,"  replied  Monday.  "Him  as 
much  right  on  the  road  as  yo.i." 

"Have  you,  my  good  follow,  we'll  see  about  that," 
answered  Davis.  "Here,  Juno!  Here,  lass." 

The  dog  looked  up  in  its  master's  face  and  wagged  its 
tail. 

"After  him,  girl ;  fetch  him  down,"  continued  Davis. 

Monday  took  to  hio  heels,  having  no  fancy  to  be  man- 
gled and  torn  by  the  bloodthirsty  hound. 

His  only  weapon  of  defence  was  a  long  knife,  which 
he  had  stuck  in  his  girdle 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  \^ 

Although  lie  could  run  fast,  the  hound  could  run  faster, 
and  sprang  after  him  with  huge  bounds. 

Hearing  the  panting  brute  just  behind  him,  Monday 
turned,  and  drawing  his  knife,  stood  at  bay. 

Frank  galloped  up  to  see  what  he  called  fun. 

A  fight  between  his  dog  and  a  common  nigger  just 
suited  his  truculent  and  cruel  disposition. 

"Hi,  at  him!  Stick  to  himl  Hi,  at  him  1  Loo! 
Loo  !  "  cried  Davis. 

Encouraged  by  her  master's  voice,  Juno  seized  Mon- 
day by  the  arm,  and  drew  him  on  his  knees. 

Then  a  terrible  fight  began. 

Monday  stabbed  at  the  dog,  and  the  dog  tore  his  flesh 
in  various  places,  always  trying  to  get  at  his  throat. 

This  Monday  struggled  to  prevent,  as  he  knew  tha 
beast  would  strangle  him  if  she  succeeded  in  doing  so. 

They  rolled  over  and  over  in  the  dusty  road. 
Frank  laughed  immoderately  at  the  sport,  and  kept 
on  encouraging  the  dog. 

At  length  Monday  made  a  home  thrust,  which  struck 
the  heart  of  his  enemy. 

With  a  short  yelp,  the  dog  turned  over  on  her  back 
dead. 

"Confound  you,"  cried  Davis  angrily,  "  you've  killed 
my  best  hound.  If  I  had  a  pistol  about  me,  I'd  shoot  you. " 

Monday  rose  with  difficulty ;  he  was  streaming  with 
blood,  and  was  much  exhausted. 

Game  to  the  last,  however,  he  nerved  himself  for 
another  encounter. 

Rushing  forward,  he  seized  Davis  by  the  right  leg,  and 
jerked  him  upwards. 

Unprepared  for  such  a  novel  assault,  Davis  was  pitched 
off  his  horse,  and  felt  half-stunned  by  the  fall  into  the 
road. 

The  next  moment  Monday,  with  the  agility  of  a  deer, 
was  in  the  saddle. 

Turning  the  horse's  head  in  the  right  direction,  he 
kicked  its  sides  with  his  heels  and  was  off  like  the  wind 
towards  Singapore. 

Frank  Davis  picked  himself  up  with  a  rueful  expre.^ 
sion,  and  looked  after  his  horse. 

"That's  what  I  call  a  clever  nigger,"  he  said  with  a 
laugh.  "  He's  killed  my  best  hound,  and  hooked 


1 96  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

with  one  of  the  fastest  horses  in  the  governor's  stable. 
Well,  I  shan't  holloa.  He  deserves  it,  hang  me  if  he 
doesn't. " 

He  shook  the  dust  off  his  clothes,  and  walked  along  to 
the  house. 

"Now,"  he  muttered,  "  for  an  interview  with  my  little 
Emily.  I  wonder  how  she  will  receive  me.  It's  a  pity 
my  fellow  did  not  kill  that  infernal  Harkaway  right  out, 
but  I  haven't  done  with  him  yet." 

We  must  leave  this  amiable  young  gentleman  to  visit 
the  bird  in  the  cage,  while  we  accompany  Monday  on 
his  wild  career  to  the  city. 

It  was  nearly  midnight  when  he  dismounted  at  the 
door  of  the  hotel. 

Jack  and  Harvey  had  just  come  in,  after  a  long  walk 
with  Captain  Hammond,  which  had  cooled  Jack's  hot 
head. 

Mr.  Mole  had  gone  to  bed. 

Bursting  into  the  room,  covered  with  blood  and  dust, 
Monday  appeared  to  resemble  some  dreadful  spectre. 

"Why,  Monday,  what's  come  to  you  ?  "  said  Jack. 

"Me  found  Missey  Emily,  sare,"  said  Monday. 

"  Have  you?  That's  first  rate.  You're  a  trump,  Mon- 
day ;  but  you're  hurt." 

"  Never  mind  urn  hurt,  sare.  Mist'  Davis  he  set  um 
dog  on  me." 

"What!  that  bloodhound  I  have  seen  with  him? 
What  a  beastly  shame." 

"Great  big  dog,  big  as  a  man,  sare.  Monday  kill  him 
with  um  knife,  and  come  home  on  Mist'  Davis'  horse." 

"Good  again.     You  can  do  it,"  cried  Harvey. 

"But  tell  us  all  about  it." 

"No  time  lose,  sir.  Just  tie  up  Monday's  wounds," 
replied  the  black,  "and  order  carriage  and  two  horses; 
quick,  tell  um  all  on  the  road.  Missey  Emily  and  Mist' 
Davis  all  'lone  together." 

"  He's  right, "  answered  Jack.  "Cut  downstairs,  Dick, 
and  order  the  carriage,  while  I  tie  up  his  bites  ;  he's 
bleeding  like  a  pig." 

Harvey  went  downstairs,  and  Jack  getting  a  sponge 
and  a  basin  of  water,  wiped  away  the  blood  and  dust, 
and  then,  tearing  a  shirt  into  strips,  bound  up  tha 
principal  injuries  which  the  black  had  sustained. 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  197 

"Now  um  all  right.  Lose  no  more  blood.  That 
what  um  'fraid  of,  sare,"  said  Monday. 

At  the  same  time  he  tottered  with  weakness,  and 
was  obliged  to  lean  against  the  table  for  support. 

"  Here,  drink  this,"  said  Jack,  pouring  him  out  half  a 
tumbler  of  brandy. 

He  did  so,   and  it  revived  his  drooping  energies. 

When  the  carriage  was  ready  Monday  directed  the 
driver  what  road  to  take,  and  as  they  went  along  he 
related  his  adventures  to  his  young  master,  who  highly 
commended  him  for  his  cleverness  and  his  courage. 

"That  must  have  been  a  nasty  tussle  with  the  pup," 
remarked  Harvey. 

"It  would  have  been  all  up  with  Monday  if  he  had 
not  carried  a  knife.  I  know  what  those  cross-bred 
Cuban  hounds  are,"  said  Dick. 

"Him  think  once  it  all  up,  sare,"  replied  Monday. 
"The  big  brute  him  get  me  down  and  his  face  come 
close  to  my  face.  Ugh!  It  close  shave." 

They  stopped  the  carriage  at  a  little  distance  from 
the  house,  and  told  the  driver  to  pull  up  by  the  side 
of  the  road  and  wait 

"Don't  take  the  bridles  off,  or  get  down  from  your 
box,  even,"  said  Jack  ;  "  we  may  want  to  bolt  in  a  hurry. 
Let  this  case  of  pistols  remain  by  your  side,  for  I  shall 
sit  on  the  box,  and  we  can't  tell  what  will  happen." 

The  man  said  he  fully  understood,  and  Monday  led  the 
way  to  the  back  of  the  house. 

It  would  have  been  useless  to  go  to  the  front,  as  it  was 
impossible  to  get  through  the  iron  bars  which  guarded 
the  windows. 

A  door  stood  open,  through  which  they  passed,  walk- 
ing on  tiptoe. 

The  sound  of  voices  guided  them  to  a  room  at  the  end 
of  a  long  corridor. 

"  Listen  !  "  said  Jack,  holding  up  his  hand  as  a  signal 
for  his  companions  to  stop. 

They  did  so. 

It  was  Emily's  voice. 

"I  tell  you  plainly,  Mr.  Davis,"  she  said,  "that  I  can 
never  love  you,  and  after  this  declaration,  if  you  persist 
in  annoying  me,  you  are  guilty  of  an  outrage  which  no 
gentleman  should  be  guilty  of." 


198  JACK  HA  RKA  WAY'S  AD  VENTURES 

"Lovely  Emily,"  replied  the  young  man,  "my  love 
for  you  must  be  my  excuse.  I  am  passionately  fond  of 
you.  With  my  wealth  1  can  make  you  take  a  position 
that  a  princess  might  envy." 

"All  that  I  have  heard  before.  I  beg  you  to  restore 
me  to  my  friends." 

"Your  friends  cannot  help  you.  Believe  me,  you  are 
entirely  in  my  power." 

"Not  so  much,  perhaps,  as  you  may  think,  "Emily  said. 

"Do  you  defy  me?"  Davis  asked.  "If  so,  there  is 
nothing  before  you  but  a  long  captivity.  Who  could  find 
you  in  this  lonely  house  ? " 

"Jack  Harkaway  would  find  me  anywhere,"  she 
answered. 

"  Bravo,  Emily  !  "  muttered  Jack. 

"Do  not  rely  upon  him;  he  is  a  broken  reed,"  said 
Davis. 

"Ami?"  muttered  Jack,  again.  "Fillet  you  know, 
my  tulip,  in  a  minute  or  two. " 

"Mr.  Davis,"  said  Emily,  "I  have  always  believed 
you  to  be  a  gentleman.  Why  do  you  act  in  this  extraor- 
dinary manner?" 

"Because  I  love  you,  and  mean  to  have  a  kiss,"  he 
replied. 

"Sir,"  she  exclaimed,  "I  am  helpless  and  defenceless, 
yet  I  have  the  weapons  nature  gave  me,  and  if  you  dare 
to  touch  me  with  your  little  finger  even,  I  will  bite  and 
scratch ! " 

"Bravo,  Emily  !  "  whispered  Jack,  a  second  time. 

"  By  Heaven  !  "  replied  Davis,  "  you  are  very  lovely. 
I  will  have  a  kiss,  if  I  die  for  it." 

He  helped  himself  to  some  wine — several  decanters 
were  standing  on  the  table — and  approached  her  with 
an  amorous  leer  on  his  face. 

"  Help  !  help  !  "  cried  Emily,  as  his  arm  encircled  her 
waist.  "Help!  Oh,  Jack,  why  are  you  not  here  to 
protect  me?  " 

There  was  a  sound  of  feet  in  the  passage. 

A  heavy  body  rushed  towards  Davis,  a  fist  clenched 
so  firmly  that  it  resembled  iron,  was  dashed  into  his  face, 
and  he  fell  on  the  floor  stunned. 

The  next  moment  Jack  held  Emily  in  his  arms,  and 
was  covering  her  lips  with  kisses. 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  199 

"I  thought  you  wouldn't  come,  Jack  dear,"  she  mur- 
mured. 

"Just  in  time,"  replied  Jack. 

Harvey   and   Monday   were  busily  engaged  in  tying 
Davis's  hands  and  legs. 

Having  done  this,  Harvey  exclaimed — 

What  shall  we  do  with  him  ? " 
'Have  you  tied  him  fast?"  asked  Jack. 
'  Yes. " 

;  He  can't  wriggle  out  ? " 

:If  he  does,  I'll  forgive  him,"  replied  Harvey. 
'  Then   chuck  him   under  the  sofa  like  a  hundred  of 
coals,  and  let  him  lie  there  for  a  bit.     I've  got  a  new  idea 
for  punishing  him,  but  it  will  keep  a  little  while.     What 
have  you  got  in  those  bottles  ?  " 

Harvey   examined  the  bottles  on    the  table,  and  re- 
plied— 

"  All  sorts." 

"Open  some  champagne;  I'll  have  a  lush   of  some- 
thing to  celebrate  this  victory, "  exclaimed  Jack 


CHAPTER  XXXVL 

TAR    AND     FEATHERS. 

HARVEY  contemptuously  rolled  Frank  Davis  under  the 
sofa,  where  he  lay  as  still  as  a  mouse,  either  being  really 
stunned  by  Jack's  sledge-hammer  blow  or  pretending  to 
be  so. 

Not  a  sound  escaped  him  in  reality. 

"It  was  fortunate  you  came  when  you  did,"  said 
Emily.  "I  can't  tell  you  how  thankful  I  am." 

"You  must  thank  Monday,"  replied  Jack. 

Monday  was  grinning  with  delight. 

He  presented  a  singular  sight,  covered  with  white 
bandages  as  he  was. 

"  Is  he  hurt,  or  are  his  clothes  torn  ?  "  asked  Emily. 

"  It  isn't  clothes  ;  it's  bandages,"  replied  Jack.  "Tell 
the  lady  all  about  it.  What  are  you  grinning  at,  you  old 
mummy  ?  " 


200  JA CK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

Monday  complied  with  this  request,  and  Emily  thanked 
him  very  much  for  his  bravery. 

Suddenly  Jack  jumped  up  from  the  sofa  with  a  yell. 

"  What's  the  row  ?  "  said  Harvey. 

"Something's  bitten  me  in  the  calf  of  the  leg,  and 
made  its  teeth  meet,"  replied  Jack.  "Have  you  any 
dogs  here,  Emily?  " 

"I  have  seen  none,"  she  answered. 

He  looked  under  the  sofa  and  found  that  Davis  had 
rolled  over,  and  so  been  able  to  bite  him. 

"You  brute,"  exclaimed  Jack.  "If  you  weren't  bound 
hard  and  fast,  upon  my  word  I  could  kick  you  in  the  face. 
Why  didn't  you  fasten  him  up  better,  Dick?  " 

"I  thought  I  had,"  replied  Harvey.  "It  was  my 
impression  he  couldn't  wriggle  a  little  bit. " 

"Bring  him  out,  and  put  him  in  the  middle  of  the 
room,"  exclaimed  Jack. 

Harvey  hauled  him  out,  and  Davis  looked  up  in  Hark- 
away's  eyes  with  a  malicious  expression  of  gratified 
malignity. 

"  I  shouldn't  care  if  I  had  been  bitten  by  a  decent  sort 
of  a  man, "said  Jack.  "The  cad  may  poison  the  flesh 
or  something.  Perhaps  he's  been  eating  mouldy  victuals." 

Harvey  laughed. 

"  He's  not  so  bad  as  that,"  he  said. 

"  When  are  we  to  go  home?''  asked  Emily. 

"Presently,  my  dear,"  answered  Jack.  "I  have  a 
carriage  waiting  outside.  But  first  of  all  I  must  settle 
accounts  with  this  cur  here." 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  with  him  ?  " 

"You'll  see  if  you  live  long  enough,"  said  Jack  ;  add- 
ing, "  Monday." 

"  Yes,  sare,"  replied  the  black. 

"Go  into  the  yard,  and  see  if  you  can  find  a  barrel  of 
tar." 

"Tar?  "  exclaimed  Emily.      "  What's  that  for  ?  " 

"Don't  ask  questions,"  answered  Jack.  "  Be  a  good 
girl,  and  you'll  see  what  you  will  see." 

"  There  generally  is  tar  about  a  country  place  to  do  up 
the  palings  with,"  said  Harvey. 

"Of  course,"  answered  Jack.  "  When  you  have  found 
it,  bring  it  in  here. " 

"Yes,  sare,"  replied  Monday. 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  2 o I 

"What  am  I  to  do  ?  "  asked  Harvey. 

"  Go  into  the  yard  and  kill  a  couple  of  geese  or  half-a- 
dozen  fowls,  and  bring  them  here." 

"  Are  you  going  to  have  a  feed?  " 

"Never  mind;  do  as  I  tell  you.  Off  you  go — both  of 
you,"  said  Jack. 

Monday  and  Harvey  started  together,  and  were  gone 
nearly  half-an-hour. 

Jack  put  his  arm  round  Emily's  waist,  and  looking  at 
Davis,  said — 

"  You  wanted  a  kiss,  just  now,  from  the  best  girl  that 
ever  lived  ? " 

Davis  made  no  answer. 

Jack  got  up  and  kicked  him  in  the  ribs. 

' '  Answer  when  you  are  spoken  to,  or  it  will  be  the 
worse  for  you,"  he  exclaimed. 

"If  I  did  what  then?"  asked  Davis,  with  some  of  his 
old  independent  manner. 

"Just  this  ;  see  me  kiss  her.  That's  all,  old  boy. 
That's  your  share." 

Jack  drew  Emily  to  him  as  he  spoke,  and  she  let  her 
head  fall  on  his  breast  while  he  bent  down  and  kissed  her 
as  he  liked. 

When  he  had  done  he  said — 

"  How  do  you  like  that  ?  Nice,  isn't  it,  Mr.  Cowardly 
Davis  ?  " 

Davis  groaned. 

If  he  could  have  got  at  Jack  he  would  have  killed  him 
then  and  there,  regardless  of  consequences. 

Harvey  came  in  first  with  two  fine  geese,  a  turkey,  and 
three  hens,  which  he  had  surprised  in  the  hen-house,  and 
killed  by  wringing  their  necks. 

"  There  they  are,"  he  said. 

"  Chuck  them  down,"  replied  Jack. 

"  What  am  I  to  do  ?  "  inquired  Emily,  with  a  smile. 

"Help  Harvey  to  pluck  them,  and  throw  the  feathers 
in  a  heap  on  the  floor." 

"Oh!  what  a  mess  it  will  make  on  this  beautiful 
carpet,"  she  exclaimed. 

"Never  mind  that.  I  think  I  shall  burn  the  house 
down  before  I  go." 

"Oh,  Jack?" 

"You  needn't  say   'Oh  Jack!'  as  if  I  were  going  to 


202  JA  CK  HA  RKA  WAY'S  AD  VENTURES 

jump  down  your  throat,"  said  Jack  laughing.  "Get  to 
work  instantly,  miss." 

Presently  Monday  returned,  lugging  a  small  barrel  of 
tar  with  him. 

Jack  went  to  Davis,  and  putting  him  on  a  chair,  took 
a  knife  out  of  his  pocket  and  stood  over  him. 

"Don't  kill  me,"  whined  Davis,  who  thought  his  last 
hour  had  come. 

"  No  fear,"  answered  Jack  ;  "  I  know  a  trick  worth  two 
of  killing  you." 

He  began  to  cut  away  his  clothes  until  he  was  naked 
to  the  waist. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  with  me?  "  asked  Davis, 
who  was  puzzled  at  all  these  preparations. 

"  You'll  know  all  in  good  time,"  answered  Jack  ;  who 
added — "Monday,  as  I  tar  him  you  throw  feathers  on 
him. " 

Monday  grinned  all  over  his  face. 

Jack  took  up  a  turkey's  wing,  and  dipping  it  in  the  tar, 
smeared  Davis  all  over  with  the  sticky  stuff. 

•Monday  threw  handful  after  handful  of  feathers  over 
him,  and  he  began  gradually  to  take  the  appearance  of  a 
feathered  creature. 

Jack  left  his  face  unsmeared,  so  that  people  might  know 
him  ;  but  he  feathered  his  hair,  and  covered  him  in  a 
most  artistic  manner. 

Frank  Davis's  rage  knew  no  bounds. 

He  swore,  raved,  and  threatened  them  all  with  the 
severest  penalties  of  the  law. 

"Don't  you  talk  about  law,  my  hearty,"  returned 
Jack.  "  You  have  carried  off  a  young  lady,  tried  to  have 
me  stabbed,  and  endeavoured  to  worry  with  your  dog  a 
poor  inoffensive  fellow  you  saw  on  the  road.  Law, 
indeed  !  I'll  give  you  enough  law,  if  you  want  it." 

When  he  was  thoroughly  tarred  and  feathered  Jack 
*aid — 

"Now  we  are  ready  to  start.  Come  along,  Emily 
take  my  arm.  Dick,  see  to  the  bird. " 

Harvey  touched  Davis  on  the  leg,  and  exclaimed — 

"Get  up." 

Davis  refused  to  move. 

"Won't  budge,"  said  Harvey. 

"  Won't  he?  "  replied  Jack.      "Emily,  give  me  a  pin." 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  203 

She  handed  him  one,  which  Jack  stuck  into  Frank 
Davis's  thigh. 

He  sprang  up  in  a  moment  with  a  cry  of  pain. 

"  Found  your  legs,  have  you,  old  fellow  ?  Thought  you 
would,"  laughed  Jack. 

Davis  had  his  legs  untied,  and  walked  by  Harvey's  side, 
his  arms  being  fastened  behind  his  back. 

They  all  went  to  the  carriage,  which  was  waiting  for 
them  in  the  road,  and  getting  in  were  driven  to  the  city. 

Davis  was  made  to  sit  by  himself  on  the  front  seat, 
Harvey  standing  over  him. 

Monday  got  on  the  box,  and  Jack  and  Emily  sat  side 
by  side. 

When  they  reached  Singapore  it  was  early  morning. 

Under  the  tropics  people  get  up  early  and  sleep  in  the 
micnif  e  of  the  day  when  the  sun  is  fiercest. 

Consequently  the  city  was  astir. 

When  the  principal  street  was  reached  Jack  stopped 
the  carriage  near  the  market-place,  and  told  Davis  to  get 
out. 

' '  Get  out  here  ?  "  he  exclaimed,  with  horror. 

"Yes;  out  you  go— immediately,  if  not  sooner.  Stir 
your  stumps,"  answered  Jack. 

Reluctantly  Davis  descended  the  steps  and  stood  in  the 
street. 

He  presented  a  strange  spectacle. 

Half  man,  half  bird. 

When  the  people  in  the  street  saw  him  they  set  up  a 
great  shout. 

"Go  on,"  said  Jack  ;  "  cut  along,  or  I  shall  stick  a  pin 
into  you  again." 

Davis  knew  the  locality  very  well,  and  his  father's 
offices  were  not  far  off,  so  that  he  decided  to  run  as  fast 
as  he  could  through  the  streets. 

He  made  a  start,  but  could  not  go  very  quickly  owing 
to  his  hands  being  tied  behind  his  back. 

Men,  women,  and  children  howled  at  him  and  threw 
any  object  that  came  handiest,  and  it  was  only  when 
bruised  and  exhausted  that  he  reached  a  haven  of  refuge. 

"That  will  teach  him  a  lesson,"  said  Jack,  laughing 
heartily. 

"I  should  think  so,"  replied  Harvey.  "He  will  be  a 
week  getting  the  tar  and  feathers  off. 


204  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"  Mind  one  thing,  Emily,"  exclaimed  Jack  ;  "don't  you 
be  humbugged  again. '' 

"  I  will  take  very  good  care  I  am  not,"  replied  Emily  ; 
"and  believe  me,  dear  Jack,  and  you,  too,  Monday, 
that  I  shall  never,  never  forget  your  kindness. " 

"  What  have  I  done,"  said  Harvey,  "  that  I  should  not 
be  thought  of?" 

"Oh,  you're  nobody;  you  can  go  and  play,"  replied 
Jack. 

When  they  reached  the  hotel  they  inquired  for  Mr.  Mole. 

The  servant  said  that  he  had  called  him,  but  he  refused 
to  get  up. 

"  Look  here,  "said  Jack ;  "perhaps  Mole's  taken  worse  ; 
he  said  he  had  a  cold.  I  will  go  and  see  to  him." 

"All  right,"  said  Harvey  ;  "I  will  see  Monday  looked 
after.  His  wounds  are  getting  stiff. " 

Harvey  and  Monday  went  away  together,  and  Jack 
saw  Emily  to  her  bedroom,  gave  her  a  kiss,  and  went  to 
Mr.  Mole. 

"How  do,  sir?"  said  Jack.  "We've  got  back  the 
lost  dove." 

"Glad  to  hear  it,  Harkaway  ;  it  is  more  than  you  de- 
serve," answerd  Mr.  Mole,  who  was  wrapped  up  in  bed, 
as  if  he  had  a  severe  attack  of  influenza,  and  lived  in 
Kamschatka. 

He  wore  a  nightcap  which  culminated  in  a  most  ludi- 
crous tassel. 

"  Get  up,  sir,"  said  Jack,  "and  take  a  turn  with  me  in 
the  fresh  morning  air." 

"No,  Harkaway,  I  distinctly  refuse,"  answered  Mr. 
Mole.  "I  have  been  very  badly  treated,  and  I  shall  not 
move  from  this  bed  for  a  month." 

"What,  sir,  sleep  for  a  month?"  cried  Jack. 

"  I  did  not  say  sleep,  but  I  shall  not  get  out  of  this  bed 
for  a  month,  and  during  that  time  you  cannot  play  me 
any  tricks.  I  have  been  pumped  upon,  and  the  result  is 
a  severe  cold,  which  only  the  most  careful  nursing  will 
cure. '' 

"  You've  got  a  tile  off,  sir,"  replied  Jack. 

"Cease,  if  you  please,  to  make  vulgar  allusions  to  the 
sii*e  of  my  mind,  and  leave  me,"  said  Mr.  Mole. 

' '  As  j<,~?  Hke,  sir,"  replied  Jack.  ' '  Hope  you  will  be  in 
a  better  temper  %'!>«"  T  see  you  again. " 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  205 

Mr.  Mole  pulled  his  nightcap  over  his  eyes,  and  settled 
himself  down  for  a  second  sleep. 

Jack  was  tired  and  turned  in,  marvelling  at  the  peculiar 
state  of  mind  in  which  he  had  found  Mr.  Mole. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

MR.  MOLE  GOES  TO  BED  FOR  A  MONTH. 

THE  boys  did  not  breakfast  till  late. 

Both  were  worn  out  with  the  fatigue  and  excitement  of 
the  previous  night. 

Monday's  wounds,  though  not  dangerous,  were  exceed- 
ingly painful,  and  the  doctor  who  had  been  called  in 
advised  him  not  to  move  out  of  his  bed  for  a  day  or  two. 

When  Harvey  and  Jack  met  over  their  coffee,  the  former 
said — 

"Where's  Mole?" 

"Gone  to  bed  for  a  month,"  replied  Jack. 

"  Go  on  1  "  said  Harvey.  "What's  the  use  of  chaffing 
me?" 

"I'm  not  chaffing.  He  swore  last  night  he  would  not 
move.  He  is  sulky  because  we  pumped  upon  him." 

' '  Does  he  mean  it  ?  " 

"  I  believe  he  does." 

"Oh,  I  can't  live  without  old  Mole,"  replied  Harvey. 

"Why?" 

"  He's  such  fun.     We  must  have  him  out." 

"  It's  all  very  well  to  say,  have  him  out,"  answered 
Jack.  "  But  how  are  you  going  to  do  it  ?  " 

"Easy  enough,"  replied  Harvey.  "Look  at  those 
fellows  in  the  street." 

Jack  looked  out  of  the  window,  and  saw  some  jugglers, 
who  were  performing  with  snakes,  which  they  twined 
round  their  necks  and  even  allowed  to  bite  them. 

"Well,"  said  Jack,  "what  have  those  men  to  do  with 
Mole  ?  " 

"  I'll  show  you,"  replied  Harvey. 

He  went  downstairs,  and  talked  to  one  of  the  jugglers 
for  a  few  minutes,  and  when  he  came  back,  he  carried 
something  with  him  in  a  small  basket 


206  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  'S  AD  VENTURES 

"What  have  you  got  there  ? "  asked  Jack,  curiously. 

"A  fine  young  cobra,"  replied  Harvey.  "  It  isn't  dan- 
gerous, so  don't  start ;  besides  it  can't  get  out,  unless  I 
open  the  basket." 

"Isn't  it  poisonous  ?  " 

"  It  was  once  upon  a  time;  but  my  juggling  friend 
told  me  that  they  had  drawn  his  poison  fangs,  and  that  if 
the  thing  did  bite  now,  it  wouldn't  do  any  harm." 

"I  see,"  exclaimed  Jack.  "Still,  I  don't  like  snakes, 
whether  they  are  harmless  or  not." 

"  I  don't  suppose  Mole  does  either.  Don't  you  think 
he  would  jump,  if  he  found  a  thing  of  this  sort  in  his 
bed  ? " 

"By  Jove  !  "  cried  Jack,  laughing  ;   "he'd  have  a  fit" 

"Sorry  for  him,  but  he  will  have  to  make  acquaintance 
with  this  new  sort  of  bedfellow." 

"  When  and  how  is  the  nameless  deed  to  be  done? " 

"Presently he  will  get  up  to  have  his  bed  made,  and 
then  I  shall  introduce  the  snake.  It  will  be  all  a  lark." 

"You're  improving,"  said  Jack,  patting  him  on  his 
back. 

"It's  being  so  much  with  you,"  replied  Harvey. 
"Evil  communications  corrupt  good  manners.  Come  up 
to  Mole's  room." 

They  ascended  the  stairs  together,  and  found  Mr.  Mole 
sitting  in  his  dressing-gown,  with  a  cotton  nightcap  on 
his  head,  looking  out  of  the  window,  through  which  a 
cool  breeze  entered. 

The  servant  was  just  finishing  making  the  bed. 

Jack  went  up  and  spoke  to  Mr.  Mole,  and  when  the 
servant  departed,  Harvey  opened  the  basket,  and  allowed 
the  serpent  to  glide  into  the  bed. 

Then  he,  too,  went  up,  and  talked  to  Mr.  Mole. 

"Going  to  turn  in  again,  sir,"  he  said;  "or  have  you 
thought  better  of  it  ?  " 

"No,"  replied  Mr.  Mole,  "I  intend  to  keep  my  bed 
until  we  sail  for  England.  You  boys  shall  not  play  me 
any  more  tricks,  I  promise  you,  for  I  will  keep  out  of 
your  way." 

"What  shall  we  do  without  you,  sir?  "  said  Jack. 

"You  should  have  thought  of  that  before.  I  am  sure 
the  deprivation  of  my  society  must  be  a  great  blow  to 
you." 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  207 

"You're  sulking,  sir.  Don't  sulk;  it's  childish,"  ex- 
claimed Jack. 

"I  am  the  best  judge  of  my  own  actions,  and  I  tell  you 
flatly,  once  for  all,  that  I  have  gone  to  bed  for  a  month, 
and  no  persuasion  on  your  part  shall  get  me  out." 

"Won't  anything  induce  you  to  change  your  mind  ? " 

"  No  power  on  earth  will  doit,  Harkaway,"  answered 
Mr.  Mole,  firmly. 

He  threw  off  his  dressing-gown  and  stood  in  his  night- 
shirt, looking  very  comical  with  his  old-fashioned  night- 
cap on  his  head. 

"  In  my  bed  I  am  at  peace,"  he  murmured. 

Turning  the  clothes  down  a  little  way,  he  crept  in,  and 
a  smile  of  placid  satisfaction  stole  over  his  features. 

All  at  once  the  placid  expression  vanished. 

He  fidgeted  in  bed,  and  seemed  ill  at  ease. 

"What's  the  matter,  sir?"  asked  Jack. 

"The  slut  who  made  this  bed  has  left  something  in  it. 
I  can  feel  something  about  my  legs.  What  the  deuce  is 
it?"  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole,  uneasily. 

"  Better  have  a  look,  sir.     Perhaps  it  is  a  dead  dog." 

"Drat it!"  continued  Mole.  "It's  something  alive. 
It  keeps  on  moving." 

He  rose  up  and  threw  down  the  bedclothes. 

The  snake  had  been  making  itself  a  nest  to  go  to  sleep 
in,  and  was  annoyed  at  being  disturbed  in  the  midst  of 
its  preparations. 

It  coiled  its  tail,  and  sat  upright,  darting  its  forked 
tongue  in  and  out,  and  emitting  a  sharp  hiss. 

"The  Lord  be  good  to  me  !  "  cried  Mole,  in  dire  terror. 

"Why,  it's  a  snake,"  said  Harvey.  "How  on  earth 
could  it  get  there  ? " 

' '  It's  a  deadly  cobra, "  continued  Mole.  ' '  A  venomous 
serpent.  Oh,  Lord  !  oh,  Lord  !  I  wish  I  was  well  home 
again.  Strike  it,  Harvey.  Take  it  by  the  neck  and  throw 
it  out  of  window." 

"Thank  you,  sir  ;  I'd  rather  not,  if  it  is  the  same  to 
you,"  replied  Harvey,  coldly. 

"Harkaway,"  pleaded  Mr.  Mole,  "you  are  a  brave 
boy." 

"  Hope  so,  sir." 

"For  goodness'  sake,  seize  the  snake  !  It  will  spring 
upon  me.  Already  it  is  fixing  me  with  its  awful  eyes. 


208  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

Save  me,  Harkaway  ;  all  my  worldly  goods  shall  be 
yours.  Save  me — save  me  !  " 

"  Nasty  things  snakes,  sir  ;  don't  like  to  handle  them," 
said  Jack. 

Mr.  Mole's  terror  increased  every  moment. 

The  snake  did  not  attempt  to  fly  at  him. 

It  had  been  more  than  two  years  with  the  jugglers,  and 
was  used  to  human  beings,  and  expected  to  be  taken  up 
and  put  through  its  performance. 

"Look,"  cried  Mr.  Mole,  white  with  fear,  "look  at  the 
venomous  creature.  It  will  dart  at  me,  fix  its  fangs  in  my 
flesh,  and  in  half  an  hour,  I,  Isaac  Mole,  will  have  ceased 
to  exist.  Oh,  Lord  !  oh  Lord  !  " 

"  Neither  Harvey  nor  I  dare  touch  it,  sir,"  said  Jack. 

"What  am  I  to  do  ?  "  asked  Mole. 

"If  I  were  you,  sir,  I'd  bolt.  Perhaps  there  are  more 
in  the  room.  There  is  generally  a  nest  where  you  see  one. " 

Finding  that  Mr.  Mole  did  not  attempt  to  handle  it,  the 
jnake,  which  was  inclined  to  be  tame,  thought  it  would 
Commence  the  performance  by  itself. 

It  put  itself  in  motion,  gliding  along  Mr.  Mole's  leg, 
Causing  him  to  utter  the  most  awful  yells. 

Then  it  wound  round  his  arm,  and  reaching  his  neck, 
toiled  itseh  in  two  folds,  and  bringing  its  head  to  a  level 
with  Mr.  Male's  nose,  looked  in  a  half  affectionate  manner 
at  him. 

Jack  and  Harvey  laughed  immoderately. 

They  had  never  seen  anything  so  funny. 

"  It  wants  to  kiss  you,  sir.     Stroke  it,"  said  Jack. 

For  a  moment  Mr.  Mole  had  been  paralysed  with  fear. 

Recovering  himself,  he  sprang  out  of  bed,  and  in  his 
night-gown  and  cap,  descended  the  stairs  six  at  a  time, 
cleared  the  hall  at  a  few  bounds,  dashed  into  the  street 
and  ran  for  his  life. 

He  uttered  incoherent  cries,  and  the  crowd  in  the  street 
thinking  he  was  mad,  ran  after  him,  hooting  and  yelling 
like  demons. 

The  snake  clung  fast,  evidently  regarding  this  as  a  new 
performance. 

Mr.  Mole  had  only  one  idea,  and  that  was  to  throw 
himself  headlong  into  the  water  of  the  harbour,  which  was 
at  the  bottom  of  the  street. 

He  thought  that  land  snakes  could  not  live  in  water. 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE. 


209 


But  just  as  he  reached  the  quay,  a  rough  grasp  seized 
his  arm  and  forced  him  on  his  knees. 

The  jerk  threw  off  the  snake,  which  glided  away,  look- 
ing for  its  basket. 

Unfortunately  for  it,  some  boys  in  the  crowd  saw  it, 
and  speedily  dispatched  it  with  stones. 

The  person  who  had  stopped  Mr.  Mole's  wild  career 
was  Captain  Hammond. 

"A  madman,"  shouted  the  throng. 

"Who  are  you,"  asked  the  captain,  "and  what  are  you 
doing?  " 

Mr.  Mole  put  up  his  hand,  and  finding  the  snake  was 
gone,  breathed  again. 

At  the  same  moment  he  looked  up  and  recognised 
Captain  Hammond. 

"  Do  you  not  know  me  ? "  he  said. 

"  No  ;  hang  me  if  I  do,"  replied  the  captain. 

"  I  am  Mr.  Mole." 

"  Harkaway's  Mole  ? "  asked  the  skipper. 

"If  you  choose  to  put  it  so.  I  am  anybody's  Mole. 
Take  me  back  to  the  hotel ;  the  danger  is  over  now." 

"What  danger?" 

"Snakes." 

"  Snakes  ?"  repeated  the  captain.  "Humbug.  They 
don't  come  into  this  city." 

"Don't  they!  There  was  one  in  my  bed.  But  take 
me  back.  I  fear,  from  the  tittering  of  the  crowd,  that  I 
present  a  singular  not  to  say  a  ludicrous  appearance." 

The  captain  gave  him  his  arm,  and  in  a  very  tottering 
state,  Mr.  Mole  was  conducted  back  to  his  hotel. 

Nothing  would  induce  him  to  go  into  his  bedroom 
again  ;  he  was  afraid  of  more  snakes,  and  throwing  him- 
self into  an  armchair,  he  sighed  deeply  and  shivered. 

"If  ever  I  am  caught  out  of  England  again,"  he  ex- 
claimed, "  I'll  buy  a  stick  and  beat  myself." 

Harvey  took  Captain  Hammond  on  one  side  and  let 
him  into  the  joke,  at  which  he  laughed. 

Mr.  Mole,  however,  did  not  suspect  Harvey's  share  in 
the  matter. 

He  thought  the  snake  had  crept  into  the  house  through 
the  window. 

In    fact,   his   mind  was   so   perturbed,   that   he   could 
scarcely  think  at  all. 
U 


210  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"Heaven  has  been  good  to  me,"  he  said.  "I  will 
make  a  vow — in  olden  times,  people,  after  a  great  mercy 
had  been  vouchsafed  to  them,  used  to  go  on  a  pilgrimage 
or  a  crusade.  I  can't  go  about  like  a  pilgrim  or  a  crusader. 
What  shall  I  do,  Harkaway  ?  " 

"Go  to  bed  again,  sir." 

"  No  !  "  replied  Mr.  Mole,  with  a  shudder.  "No  more 
bed  for  me  in  Singapore.  I  shall  sleep  on  a  sofa  during 
the  remainder  of  our  stay  here." 

"About  this  vow,  sir?  " 

"  Ah  !  What  shall  I  do  to  show  my  gratitude  for  my 
preservation  from  that  poisonous  reptile?  I  will  never 
pass  a  blind  man  without  giving  him  sixpence.  There, 
Harkaway,  what  do  you  think  of  that  ?  " 

"Make  it  a  bob,  sir;  a  tanner's  mean,  and  will  look 
shabby. " 

' '  A  shilling  be  it  then.  But  what  are  you  doing  there  ?  " 
said  Mr.  Mole. 

"Opening  a  case  of  wine,  sir." 

"Wine?" 

"  Yes.  It  has  just  come.  It  is  directed  to  '  Mr.  Hark- 
away,  with  Captain  Hammond's  compliments.'" 

"Ah!  Something  very  choice,  I  daresay,"  said  Mr. 
Mole,  smacking  his  lips.  "Just  what  I  want  to  revive 
me  after  my  trials.  Pour  me  out  a  tumbler  full.  I  will 
taste  it,  Harkaway." 

"All  right,"  said  Jack.  "You  shall  have  the  first 
swig." 

He  drew  out  a  bottle  from  the  case,  and  removing  the 
cork,  poured  out  a  tumbler  full,  which  he  handed  to  Mr. 
Mole. 

The  latter  drank  it  at  a  draught. 

"What  do  you  think  of  it  ?  "  asked  Jack. 

"Not  bad — not  bad,  by  any  means;  but  it's  funny 
tasting  stuff,  and  has  a  burning  in  the  mouth,"  replied 
Mr.  Mole. 

"Your  mouth's  out  of  taste,  sir." 

"What's  that?"  inquired  Captain  Hammond,  who  had 
just  finished  listening  to  Harvey's  relation  of  the  trick  of 
which  Mr.  Mole  was  the  victim. 

"We  have  tapped  your  wine,  captain,"  said  Jack. 

"  My  wine  ? "  repeated  Hammond  in  surprise. 

"Yes  !  the  wine  you  sent  me  just  now,  and  for  which 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASH&Rft.  211 

I  have  not  had  an  opportunity  to  thank  you  before 
now." 

"My  dear  fellow,  there  must  be  some  mistake  ! "  said 
Captain  Hammond. 

"  How  ?  "  inquired  Jack. 

"I  sent  you  no  wine." 

"  Look  at  the  direction  on  the  case,"  said  Jack.  "  Here 
it  is,  as  plain  as  a  pikestaff :  '  Mr.  Harkaway,  with  Cap- 
tain Hammond's  compliments.'" 

The  captain  looked  carefully  at  the  label. 

"Yes;  you  are  right  so  far,  "he  said.  "But  still  I'll 
swear  I  sent  you  no  wine,  neither  is  that  direction  in  my 
handwriting." 

Jack  had  refilled  Mr.  Mole's  tumbler,  and  was  going  to 
drink,  when  the  captain  said — 

"  Don't  touch  it,  my  lad.  Taere  is  something  wrong1 
here. " 

Jack  regarded  him  with  astonishment,  in  which  both 
Harvey  and  Mr.  Mole  shared. 

What  new  danger  or  mystery  threatened  them  ? 


CHAPTER    XXXVIIL 

MORE    TREACHERY. 

THE  captain  was  positive  that  he  had  not  sent  the  boys 
the  wine,  and  Mr.  Mole  became  alarmed  at  having 
drunk  it. 

"It  seems  to  me,"  said  the  captain,  "that  this  direc- 
tion on  the  case  is  in  Mr.  Davis's  writing." 

"  My  enemy,"  remarked  Jack. 

"Yes,  indeed.  We  have  heard  at  the  club  all  about 
your  tarring  and  feathering  him,  and  then  turning  him 
up  in  the  market-place,  more  like  a  bird  than  a  human 
being.  He  is  the  laughing-stock  of  the  town." 

"Why  then  should  he  become  civil,  and  send  me  some 
wine? ''  asked  Jack. 

"Perhaps  it  is  poisoned.  Let  us  procure  a  dog,  and 
try  the  experiment  on  him." 

"No  need  to  do  that,"  said  Jack  ;  "  Mr.  Mole  has  drunk 
half  a  tumbler —  Hullo!  what's  the  matter  with  him?" 


212  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

Mr.  Mole  had  fallen  into  a  chair,  and  was  putting  both 
hands  to  his  stomach  as  if  in  pain. 

"  Got  the  mullygrubs,  sir  ?  "  said  Jack. 

"  I'm  very  bad.  I  was  taken  all  at  once,"  replied  Mr. 
Mole,  groaning.  "Send  for  a  doctor.  Get  a  stomach- 
pump." 

"  Good  idea,  stomach-pump," said  Jack.  "  Run,  Dick, 
and  fetch  a  saw-bones.  I  should  like  to  see  Mole 
pumped. " 

Mr.  Mole  sank  from  the  chair  to  the  floor  and  writhed 
in  sinuous  contortions,  while  Harvey  went  for  the 
doctor. 

"I'm  poisoned,"  he  said.  "It's  very  hard  to  be 
poisoned.  Oh,  Lord  !  what  a  time  they  are  getting  that 
pump !  " 

The  captain  and  Jack  were  much  alarmed  at  the  symp- 
toms displayed  by  Mr.  Mole. 

There  was  no  doubt  that  the  wine  had  been  poisoned, 
and  that  Frank  Davis  had  hoped  by  these  means  to  kill 
the  whole  party. 

It  was  a  great  relief  when  at  last  the  doctor  arrived 
with  the  strange  apparatus  called  the  stomach-pump, 
which  was  immediately  applied. 

Instead  of  feeling  any  relief,  and  getting  better,  Mr. 
Mole's  limbs  contracted,  and  he  appeared  to  be  sinking 
into  a  state  of  stupor. 

"  He  is  not  going  to  croak,  is  he? "  said  Jack. 

"I  cannot  tell,"  said  the  doctor.  "It  is  a  serious 
case. " 

He  put  his  hand  on  his  breast. 

There  was  no  movement. 

"I  fear,"  he  added,  "that  the  unfortunate  gentleman 
is  gone." 

"Ill  have  it  out  of  that  Davis,"  cried  Jack. 

"Poor  old  Mole,"  said  Harvey. 

"Well,"  continued  Jack;  "I  wouldn't  have  lost  Mole 
for  anything.  Is  there  nothing  you  can  do,  doctor  ?  " 

"  He  is  beyond  human  aid.  Allow  me  to  give  you  the 
card  of  an  undertaker.  In  this  climate  the  body  must  be 
buried  to-morrow  morning." 

"I'm  flummoxed,"  said  Jack.  "This  is  getting  se- 
vere. It's  cut  me  up  more  than  anything." 

Seeing  he  could  do  no  more,  the  doctor  retired. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  2 1 3 

Jack  had  Mr.  Mole  put  on  his  bed,  and  covered  with  a 
sheet. 

The  captain  went  to  communicate  with  the  police  of 
the  town,  who  said  that  the  evidence  against  Mr.  Davis 
was  not  strong  enough  to  warrant  his  arrest. 

In  fact  Davis's  father  was  so  great  a  man  in  the  town, 
that  they  were  afraid  of  attacking  him. 

Both  Harkaway  and  Harvey  were  much  shocked,  and 
Emily  joined  in  their  grief. 

They  had  narrowly  escaped  a  sudden  death  themselves. 

"It's  an  awful  grief,  just  now,"  remarked  Jack,  "  when 
our  troubles  are  nearly  over." 

"He  wasn't  a  bad  sort,"  said  Harvey,  "and  it  makes 
me  mad  to  think  that  the  poor  beggar,  who  had  done 
nothing,  should  suffer  through  our  rows." 

"I've  a  good  mind  to  have  him  embalmed,  and  take 
him  back  to  England  in  a  glass  case,"  said  Jack. 

"Better  bury  him.  You  be  chief  mourner,"  replied 
Harvey. 

"No.  I  should  like  to  have  him  mummified.  There 
are  always  embalmers  in  these  countries ;  we  must  in- 
quire for  one,"  persisted  Jack. 

Emily  laughed. 

"I'm  ashamed  of  you,  Emmy,"  said  Jack,  putting  on 
a  severe  look.  "  Come  here  and  give  me  a  kiss,  by  way 
of  doing  penance,  at  once." 

"If  you  want  one,  you  can  come  and  take  it,"  she 
answered  coquettishly,  adding — 

"I  know  it  is  a  very  dreadful  thing  to  laugh  at  a  time 
like  this,  but  the  idea  of  poor  dear  Mr.  Mole  being  made 
into  a  mummy,  is  so  funny." 

"So  it  is  when  you  come  to  think  of  it,"  observed 
Harvey. 

"I  don't  see  it,"  replied  Jack.  "  Mole,  in  a  glass  case, 
looking  as  large  as  life,  with  a  suitable  epitaph,  would  be 
highly  edifying.  Suppose  we  were  to  say — 

"  This  is  the  mummified  Mole, 
Who  was  a  jolly  old  soul." 

"'  Give  us  another  rhyme,  Dick." 

"  Let  the  bell  toll  for  poor  old  Mole." 
replied  Harve) 


214  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  ADVENTURES 

"That's  better.  Go  on,"  exclaimed  Jack,  encourag- 
ingly. 

"  He  wasn't  worth  a  farden, 
Till  he  got  his  tea-garden." 

"That's  bad.  You  began  well,  as  you  generally  do, 
but  you  always  fall  off,"  Jack  exclaimed. 

"If  you  can't  make  a  better  epitaph  than  that,  you 
ought  to  give  up  the  attempt,"  said  Emily  ;  "and  I  think 
your  trying  to  do  so  is  much  more  disgraceful  than  my 
laughing." 

"We  don't  mean  anything,  Emmy,"  replied  Jack. 
"If  I  wasn't  to  talk  and  chaff  a  little,  I  should  cry.  You 
don't  know  how  this  has  cut  me." 

"I  can  say  ditto  to  that,"  remarked  Harvey.  "It's 
entirely  crabbed  any  pleasure  I  feel  in  going  back  to 
England. " 

They  became  grave  after  this,  and  it  was  soon  time  to 
retire  to  rest. 

Early  the  next  morning  they  were  astir,  and  the  first 
visitor  at  the  hotel  was  the  undertaker,  who  was  a  Dutch- 
man, unable  to  speak  a  word  of  English. 

Jack  looked  at  his  card,  and  read  ' '  Mynheer  Van  Clootz, " 
and  seeing  the  word  "undertaker"  in  English,  divined 
the  motive  of  his  visit,  and  sadly  led  the  way  upstairs. 

An  assistant  followed  with  a  coffin,  which  was  placed 
on  the  floor. 

Mr.  Mole  was  then  perfectly  rigid  and  motionless,  and 
taking  him  up  in  his  arms,  Mynheer  Van  Clootz  laid  him 
down  in  the  coffin. 

As  it  happened  he  did  not  quite  fit. 

It  was  necessary  to  bend  the  legs  a  little,  to  make 
them  come  in,  and  this  Mynheer  Van  Clootz  proceeded 
to  do  with  some  force. 

Jack  had  turned  to  the  window,  and  was  wiping  away 
the  tears  as  they  chased  one  another  down  his  face. 

Suddenly  he  heard  a  noise,  and  Mynheer  Van  Clootz, 
uttering  strange  cries  in  his  own  sweet  native  tongue, 
ran  past  him. 

Turning  to  the  coffin,  Jack  saw  Mr.  Mole  sitting  up, 
and  looking  curiously  around  him. 

"  Harkaway,"  said  Mr.  Mole,  "I  have  overslept  my- 
self, and  the  bed  feels  hard.  What  have  you  got  for 
breakfast?  My  stomach  is  strangely  empty." 


A  FLO  A  T  AND  ASHORE.  2 1 5 

Jack  could  understand  this  when  he  recollected  how 
the  doctor  had  worked  the  pump  the  night  before. 

His  surprise  at  seeing  Mr.  Mole  alive  was  immense, 
but  his  joy  equalled  his  astonishment. 

The  Dutchman  and  his  assistant  were  so  frightened 
that  they  did  not  stop  until  they  reached  their  place  of 
business,  for  they  thought  they  had  seen  a  ghost. 

"Where  am  I?"  continued  Mr.  Mole,  looking  round 
him  ;  "  and  what  have  I  been  doing?" 

His  mind  was  so  confused  that  he  could  not  recollect 
anything. 

1 '  You  have  been  on  a  visit  to  another  land,  sir,  and 
I'm  very  glad  they  let  you  come  back  again,"  said  Jack. 

"  Let  me  see  ;  I  drank  that  wine — I  was  ill — the  doctor 
came — I  got  worse,  and  I  suppose  you  thought  me  dead." 

"That we  did,  sir." 

"I  must  have  fallen  into  a  trance.  The  stomach- 
pump  saved  my  life,  but  the  effect  of  the  poison  was  to 
send  me  into  a  deep  sleep.  What  is  this  ?  A  coffin  ? 
Bless  my  soul !  I  have  had  a  narrower  escape  than  I 
thought" 

"  You  would  have  been  screwed  down  in  another  five 
minutes,  sir, "  said  Jack.  ' '  The  cold-meat  box  was  ready, 
and  things  won't  keep  in  this  climate." 

A  shudder  ran  through  Mr.  Mole  as  he  extricated  him- 
self from  the  coffin  and  threw  off  the  ghastly  cerements 
of  the  grave. 

"I  say,  sir,"  exclaimed  Jack,  "have  a  lark  with  Har- 
vey." 

"  In  what  way,  may  I  ask  ?  " 

"Go  into  our  sitting-room,  and  frighten  him  into  fits. 
If  Emily  is  there,  I  will  prepare  her  for  your  resurrection. " 

"Upon  my  word,  Harkaway,  I  do  not  think  I  ought 
to  lend  myself  to  such  an  imposture,"  replied  Mr.  Mole, 
With  a  grim  smile. 

"Just  for  fun,  sir." 

"  And  moreover,  I  am  physically  incompetent.  I  am 
consumed  with  a  raging  thirst,  and  my  unhappy  stomach 
is  as  empty  as  a  drum. " 

"It  shall  be  filled,  sir,  without  delay.  Tog  yourself 
up  a  bit,  and  in  ten  minutes  come  downstairs.  I  wit 
order  a  cold  collation — champagne  and  cold  fowl,  or  some 
thing ;  and  if  we  don't  give  Dick  fits,  I'm  not  all  there." 


2 16  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"Very  well.  On  that  understanding,  I  fall  in  with 
your  views,  but  I  will  first  offer  up  a  thanksgiving  for  my 
deliverance  from  the  grave. " 

"Perhaps  you  are  reserved  for  a  different  fate,  sir. 
Water  won't  drown  you,  poison  don't  hurt  you,  savages 
won't  eat  you,  snakes  won't  bite  you,  and  two  wives  only 
make  you  grow  fat  and  saucy." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  imply  that  I  was  born  to  be  hanged, 
Harkaway  !  "  asked  Mr.  Mole. 

"  No,  sir,  we  won't  say  that ;  we  will  say  that  you  were 
born  to  be  elevated.  Don't  rile,  sir.  Don't  shy  your 
coffin  at  me.  I'm  not  strong,  and  mother  says  I'm  not  to 
be  hurt,"  exclaimed  Jack,  laughing,  as  he  ran  from  the 
room. 

"  What  a  boy  that  is,"  remarked  Mr.  Mole,  as  he  poured 
some  water  into  the  basin  and  washed  his  face  and  hands. 
"  But  I  do  think  he  is  pleased  to  see  me  alive.  What  an 
escape  I  have  had,  to  be  sure  ?  " 

Jack's  first  care  was  to  order  the  banquet,  as  he  called 
it,  and  to  see  the  best  spread  that  could  be  got  ready  at  a 
moment's  notice  was  sent  upstairs. 

The  food  and  Jack  entered  the  room  together,  and 
Harvey  exclaimed — 

"What,  grubbing  again  ?  You  have  only  just  had  your 
breakfast.  What  a  fellow  you  are  to  gorge  !  Have  you 
seen  the  decent  thing  done  by  poor  old  Mole  ? " 

' '  Yes ;  he's  screwed  down  as  tight  as  wax. " 

"  How  did  he  look  ?  " 

"  Fine.  I  never  felt  so  queer  in  my  life  as  when  I  took 
my  last  look  at  him,"  said  Jack. 

"I  couldn't  do  it,"  exclaimed  Harvey.  "I  tried  to 
screw  my  courage  up,  but  it  was  no  good  at  all.  You've 
more  pluck  than  I  have." 

"  Of  course.     You're  not  in  the  hunt  with  me." 

Harvey  wiped  his  eyes  with  his  sleeve. 

"  Hullo  !  "  replied  Jack  ;  "why  those  weeps?  You're 
doing  the  briny  old  woman." 

"And  I'm  not  ashamed  of  it.  If  any  one  would  bring 
old  Mole  to  life,  I'd 

Harvey  hesitated. 

"  What  would  you  do  ? "  asked  Jack. 

"  I'd  stand  on  my  head  in  a  corner  till  dinner  time, 
hang  me  if  I  wouldn't,"  replied  Harvey,  at  a  loss  how  to 


A  FLO  A  T  AND  ASHORE.  2IJ 

express  the  gratitude  he  would  feel  in  the  event  of  such 
an  improbable  occurrence  taking  place. 

Jack  smiled  quietly,  and  drawing  Emily  on  one  side, 
whispered  to  her — 

"  Don't  be  frightened.  Mole  isn't  dead.  It  was  only 
a  trance.  I  want  to  startle  Dick  ;  do  you  twig  ?  " 

Emily  looked  astonished  and  made  no  reply,  though 
she  intimated  by  a  significant  look  that  she  understood 
him. 

Going  back  to  the  table  Jack  drank  some  iced  water 
and  exclaimed — 

"Perhaps  Mole's  ghost  will  favour  you  with  a  visit 
some  of  these  fine  nights,  Master  Dick." 

"  And  if  it  did  do  you  think  I  should  care  ?  I've  seen 
too  many  things  in  my  time  to  be  frightened  easily," 
replied  Dick. 

"  Wouldn't  anything  frighten  you  ?  " 

"No.  I  don't  believe  any  mortal  thing  would,  after 
the  course  of  Pisang  I  have  been  put  through,"  replied 
Harvey,  boldly. 

At  this  moment  Mole  entered  the  room. 

He  looked  gravely,  almost  threateningly  at  Harvey, 
who  trembled  violently,  and  showed  symptoms  of  being 
startled,  if  not  really  frightened. 

"  It — it's  Mole  !  "  he  stammered. 

Mi.  Mole  raised  his  arm,  and  Harvey  shrank  back  into 
a  corner. 

'  Jack,"  he  cried,  "  what  is  it?  " 

'  What's  what  ? "  replied  Jack,  rather  ungrammatically, 
'Why  this — this  thing." 
'  I  can't  see  anything,''  answered  Jack. 
'Not  see  anything?     Then  it's  a  ghost.     It's  Mole's 
spirit  !     What  shall  I  do  ?  " 

"  Get  under  the  table,"  suggested  Jack. 

Thoroughly  terrified,  Harvey  crept  under  the  table  and 
laid  still,  until  a  hearty  laugh  fell  upon  his  ears. 

He  got  out  of  his  undignified  position  and  beheld  Mr. 
Mole  eating  a  salmon  steak,  done  to  a  turn,  as  fast  as  he 
could. 

"Ghosts  don't  eat,"  he  exclaimed. 

"  Any  fool  knows  that,"  replied  Jack. 

"  Then  it's  no  ghost." 

"  Touch  him  and  see.     He's  tucking  in  a  good  un,"  con- 


2 18  JACK  HARKA  WA  K'5  AD  VENTURES 

tinued  Jack.  "Thought  you  said  nothing  could  frighten 
you,  eh,  Dick  ?  " 

Harvey  looked  crestfallen ;  but  he  was  not  yet  satisfied, 
and  walking  up  to  Mr.  Mole,  said — 

"Is  it  really  you,  sir  ?  " 

"Yes,  Harvey,  I  am  the  sleeper  awakened.  Foursome 
of  that  iced  hock  into  the  silver  goblet,"  replied  Mr.  Mole; 
"you  may  be  my  cup-bearer." 

Harvey  did  so,  and  remarked — 

"I  am  delighted  to  see  you  again,  sir ;  but  I  must  admit 
I  was  considerably  knocked  off  my  perch  at  first,  although 
I  wasn't  really  frightened." 

"Now,  Dick,  that  won't  do.  It's  a  clumsy  get  off,"  ex- 
claimed Jack,  laughing. 

"No  more  I  was." 

"  You  know  you  were  in  a  dismal  fright." 

"  I  wasn't.  It  was  only  a  slight  shock,  that's  all.  I 
knew  it  was  Mole  all  along." 

Emily  approached  Jack,  and  said  in  a  low  tone — 

"  I  fancy  I  can  see  some  one  listening  at  the  half-open 
door. " 

"Nonsense  !  "  replied  Jack. 

"  I'm  almost  certain,"  she  persisted. 

"  Hold  hard,"  replied  Jack  ;  "  I'll  soon  unearth  the  fox. 
Wonder  who  it  is  ?  " 

He  approached  the  door  on  tiptoe. 

"  Oh,  be  careful,  Jack  !  "  said  Emily. 

He  nodded,  and  prepared  himself  for  a  struggle. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

FRANK  DAVIS  HAS  HIS  EAR  NAILED  TO  THE  DOOR. 

THE  next  minute  Jack  bounded  over  the  threshold. 

A  jnan  who  was  in  reality  listening  at  the  door,  tried  to 
escape. 

Jack  seized  him  in  his  powerful  grasp. 

There  was  a  short,  sharp  struggle. 

"Presently  he  reappeared,  dragging  the  listener  in  triumph 
jnto  the  room. 

A  glance  sufficed  to  show  that  he  had  captured  his 


AFLOA  T  AfrD  ASHORE.  2 19 

enemy,  Frank  Davis,  though  how  he  came  in  his  peculiar 
position,  or  what  his  motive  was,  he  had  yet  to  find  out. 

' '  So,  Mr.  Davis,  you  add  listening  at  doors  to  your  other 
accomplishments,"  said  Jack,  holding  him  down. 

Davis  looked  sheepishly  around. 

"I  came  to  pay  you  a  visit,"  he  said,  "to  explain,  or 
rather,  to  demand  an  explanation." 

"Why  did  you  not  send  your  name  up  like  a  gentle- 
man ? " 

"I  did  not  consider  it  necessary." 

"  You  were  anxious,  I  suppose,  to  know  if  we  were  all 
dead,  but  you  see  we  are  alive  and  kicking,"  said  Jack. 

"I  have  heard  something  about  some  poisoned  wine 
being  sent  to  you.  Though  why  you  should  accuse  me 
of  the  crime,  I  don't  know." 

"We  have  our  reasons." 

"  Ever  since  you  have  been  in  Singapore,"  cried  Davis, 
"you  have  persecuted  me.  First  of  all,  you  knock  me 
into  the  harbour ;  then  you  break  into  my  house,  and 
cover  me  with  tar  and  feathers ;  now  you  assault  me,  in 
an  infamous  manner.  What  is  the  reason  of  it  ?  " 

"It's  all  very  well  to  put  on  a  face  of  injured  inno- 
cence," replied  Jack  ;  "but,  as  I  said,  we  have  our  rea- 
sons." 

"What  are  they?" 

"  Did  you  not  insult  me?  " 

"Not  that  I  am  aware  of,"  replied  Davis.  "Let  me 
get  up,  please. " 

"  Get  up,  if  you  like,  but  if  you  stir  without  my  permis- 
sion, when  you  are  on  your  pins,  it  will  not  be  well  for 
you." 

Davis  rose,  and  shook  himself. 

"  Now  answer  my  question,"  continued  Jack.  "  Did 
you  not  hire  a  man  to  stab  me  ?  " 

"  Certainly  not." 

"  Did  you,  or  did   you  not  carry  off  Emily  ?  " 

"  I  was  wrong  there,  I  admit,  but  I  offer  a  most  hand- 
some apology  to  the  young  lady,"  replied  Davis,  sheep- 
ishly. 

"  Did  you  not  send  me  a  present  of  poisoned  wine, 
which  might  have  killed  the  lot  of  us,  and  very  nearly 
settled  Mr.  Mole's  goose  as  it  was  ?  " 

"No,  I  deny  that." 


220  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  ADVENTURES 

"  Were  you  not  listening  at  the  door  to  hear  what  our 
suspicions  about  you  were  ?  "  pursued  Jack. 

"  I  repeat,"  replied  Davis,  "  that  I  came  to  demand  an 
explanation  of  your  conduct,  which  I  hold  that  I  have  a 
right  to  do." 

"  It  will  be  best  for  you  to  clear  our  of  Singapore 
as  soon  as  you  can,  or  I  shall  insist  upon  the  authorities 
arresting  you,"  replied  Jack. 

"  That  you  can  do  as  you  like  about,"  said  Davis,  with 
his  accustomed  insolence.  "  Do  you  still  refuse  me  an 
explanation  ?  " 

"  You  cowardly  humbug  !  "  cried  Jack,  "  you  will  see 
directly  what  I  will  do  with  you.  Dick,  go  and  get  me  a 
hammer  and  a  long  nail." 

Harvey  ran  downstairs  at  once,  and  soon  returned  with 
what  he  had  been  sent  for. 

"  Now,"  cried  Jack,  "  hold  this  cur  up  against  the 
door. " 

Harvey  seized  the  unfortunate  Davis,  and  pushed  him 
up  against  the  edge  of  the  door. 

Jack  approached  with  the  nail  and  hammer. 

"  In  Heaven's  name,  what  new  outrage  am  I  to  be 
subjected  to  ?  "  cried  Davis. 

He  was  watching  the  preparations  with  dismay. 

"  You  needn't  howl  before  you're  hurt,"  replied  Jack. 

"  Miss  Emily,"  pleaded  Davis,  "  you  are  a  lady  ;  inter- 
cede for  me." 

Emily  remained  silent. 

"  Mr.  Mole,"  exclaimed  Davis. 

"  Sir,  to  you,"  replied  Mr.  Mole,  with  his  mouth  full. 

"  Save  me  from  this  treatment.  I  am  a  gentleman." 

"  Pity  you  don't  behave  as  such,"  answered  Mr.  Mole. 
"  I  can  not  help  you.  People  who  send  other  people 
poisoned  wine,  and  subject  them  to  the  exhaustive  action 
of  the  stomach-pump,  deserve  no  mercy  at  my  hands." 

"  Hold  him  tight,  Dick,"  exclaimed  Jack. 

When  Davis'  right  ear  was  close  to  the  door  Jack  put 
the  nail  against  it. 

A  sharp  blow  from  the  hammer  forced  the  nail  through 
the  cartilage,  another  sent  the  iron  into  the  door,  a  third 
made  it  fast ;  and  Davis  had  his  ear  nailed  to  the  wood- 
work. 

A  sharp  cry  of  mingled  pain  and  rage  broke  from  him. 


AFLOAT  A ND  ASHORE.  2 2 1 

• "  You  shall  repent  this  !  "  he  screamed. 

"That  is  how  we  serve  fellows  that  listen  at  doors," 
remarked  Jack,  surveying  him  complacently. 

"  It  just  serves  him  right,"  observed  Harvey  ;  adding, 
"  what  a  fool  he  looks." 

"  So  you  would  look  a  fool,  under  the  circs.,"  replied 
Jack. 

"  Don't  keep  him  long  like  that,"  replied  Emily,  whose 
tender  heart  felt  for  him. 

"  I  shall,"  answered  Jack.  "  We  are  all  going  out  for 
a  walk  when  Mr.  Mole's  done  pitching  in,  and  he  will 
have  to  stop  where  he  is  till  somebody  finds  him,  unless 
he  likes  to  bolt  and  leave  his  ear  behind  him." 

"  I  am  just  getting  my  second  wind,"  said  Mr.  Mole, 
attacking  a  larded  capon. 

"Don't  hurry,  sir;  the  performance  is  not  yet  over. 
Come  here,  Emily." 

"What  for,  jack?" 

"  To  stick  pins  into  him.  Come  along.  Stick  them  in 
anywhere  soft,  and  make  him  holloa  again,  like  the  cur 
he  is. " 

"  This  behaviour  is  worthy  only  of  savages, "  protested 
Davis. 

"  How  about  the  poisoned  wine  and  abduction  ?  "  asked 
Jack.  "  Is  that  civilised? " 

"  I  am  sure  Miss  Emily  is  too  much  of  a  lady  to  tort- 
ure me,"  continued  Davis. 

"  She  will  have  to  do  what  she  is  told.  You  come 
prick  him,  Emily,  or  there  will  be  a  row  in  the  house." 

Emily  hesitated. 

"Let  him  off,  Jack  dear;  you  have  punished  him 
enough,"  she  said. 

"  This  is  mutiny  in  the  camp ;  but  I  suppose  I  must, 
if  you  ask  me,  my  pet,"  replied  Jack.  "  Put  on  your  sun- 
hat,  and  let  us  go  out.  I  can't  breathe  while  I  am  in  the 
room  with  this  fellow." 

Davis  presented  at  once  a  painful  and  a  ridiculous  figure, 
nailed  by  the  ear,  as  he  was,  to  the  doorpost. 

His  face  was  distorted  with  rage. 

"  Look  here,  Mr.  Harkaway,"  he  exclaimed. 

"What  now?"  asked  Jack. 

' '  You  sail  in  a  day  or  two  for  England,  and  you  may 
think  that  you  will  escape  me. " 


222  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y  'S  AD  VEN  TURES 

"  I  ain't  afraid  of  you.  Now  I  know  what  you  are 
and  what  your  game  is,  I  shall  be  on  my  guard." 

"  Never  mind;  listen  to  what  I  have  to  say.  I,  too, 
am  going  to  England  to  complete  my  education  at  a 
university." 

"  I  daresay  it  requires  it,"  sneered  Jack 

"  Mark  my  words,  we  shall  meet  again." 

"  I  hope  not." 

"  But  I  say  we  shall,"  replied  Davis. 

"Well,  there  is  one  comfort,  England  isn't  Singapore  ; 
and  if  you  try  any  of  your  poisoning  dodges  on  there, 
you  will  find  yourself  in  the  wrong  box." 

"  You  hope  to  marry  Emily,"  continued  Davis. 

"  That's  my  business,"  replied  Jack  flushing. 

"  I  tell  you,  she  shall  never  be  your  wife.  Never,  never ; 
as  long  as  I  live. " 

Jack  stared  at  him  in  amazement 

"  You're  a  nice  sort  of  a  fellow,"  he  said.  "  What  do 
you  mean  by  threatening  me  ? " 

"  I  speak  the  truth,  and  you  will  find  that  making  an 
enemy  of  me  was  the  worst  day's  work  you  ever  did," 
answered  Davis,  vindictively. 

Suddenly  a  gust  of  wind  blew  the  door  to  with  great 
violence. 

A  horrible  cry  broke  from  Davis,  who  was  forced  outside. 

Dismal  yells  were  heard  in  the  corridor. 

' '  By  Jove  !  "  said  Harvey,  ' '  he's  left  his  ear  behind  him. " 

"  Has  he?     I  didn't  mean  that,"  exclaimed  Jack. 

He  opened  the  door,  and  there,  on  the  post,  was  the 
unfortunate  man's  ear,  literally  torn  from  his  head. 

They  could  see  nothing  of  Davis. 

The  fact  was  that,  mad  with  pain  and  rage,  he  had  run 
away,  holding  his  handkerchief  to  his  head,  to  seek  for 
medical  assistance. 

"  Blow  me  tight,"  said  Jack,  "  that's  a  funny  thing. 
He's  a  settled  member  now.  I  am  sorry  for  it  though." 

"  You  have  two  enemies,  Hunston  and  Davis,"  said 
Harvey.  "  The  first  is  one-armed,  and  the  second  one- 
eared.  " 

' '  Can't  help  spotting  them  in  a  crowd,  then. " 

"  Not  much." 

"  I  didn't  mean  to  wrench  his  ear  off,"  observed  Jack  ; 
"  though  he  deserves  it,  for  what  he  has  done  to  us." 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  223 

"What's  that?"  asked  Mr.  Mole,  throwing  himself 
back  in  his  chair  with  a  sigh  of  satisfaction. 

"  Mr.  Davis  has  bolted,  sir,  and  left  his  ear  behind 
him. " 

"  Left  his  ear !     Ha,  ha  !     You're  joking." 

"  I'm  not.     There  it  is  on  the  doorpost,"  replied  Jack. 

"  Dear,  dear!  What  a  strange  proceeding.  Poor  fel- 
low !  Well,  I  had  no  hand  in  it,  that's  one  comfort,  though 
I  hope  you  won't  get  into  trouble  for  pulling  people's  ears 
off." 

"  It  was  an  accident.  I  nailed  him  up,  but  I  didn't 
make  the  door  blow  to. " 

"  It  came  as  a  punishment  to  him.  He  was  cursing 
like  a  pagan,"  observed  Harvey. 

"  Can't  be  helped,"  said  Jack.     "  Have  you  fed,  sir  ?  " 

"  Well,  Harkaway,  very  well,"  answered  Mr.  Mole  ; 
"  the  inner  man  is  comforted,  and  Isaac's  himself  once 
more.  I  shall  now  be  glad  to  join  you  in  a  drive — say  a 
drive,  for  walk  I  can  not,  with  all  the  luggage  I  have  taken 
on  board." 

"  We  must  not  let  Emily  see  this,"  replied  Jack.  "  I'll 
undo  the  ear,  and  you  can  swab  the  claret  with  the  table- 
cloth, Dick." 

The  blood  was  quickly  wiped  up,  and  Jack  unfastened 
the  ear,  which  he  wrapped  in  a  piece  of  paper  with  ghastly 
precision. 

"  What  shall  we  do  with  the  lug?  "  he  asked. 

A  waiter  solved  the  difficulty  by  coming  in  and  saying — 

"  Mr.  Davis  has  sent  for  his  ear,  sir." 

In  spite  of  the  horror  of  the  whole  thing,  Jack  could  not 
helping  smiling. 

"  Here  it  is  ;  in  the  paper,"  he  replied.  "  Give  it  his 
messenger  with  my  compliments." 

The  servant,  who  was  an  American,  and  who  had  seen 
a  little  shooting  and  bowie-knifing,  did  not  seem  in  the 
least  surprised. 

One  man  had  gouged  another's  eye  out  in  a  bar  and 
then  thrown  it  at  him,  so  that  acts  of  violence  were  noth- 
ing new  to  his  experience. 

"That's  done  with,"  said  Harvey.  "Wonder  if  they 
can  stick  it  on  ?  " 

"Not  they,"  replied  Jack. 

"  Funny  idea,  a  cove  sending  for  his  ear." 


224  J*CJT  HARK  A  WAY'S  AD  VENTURES 

"Very.  Wasn't  my  answer  studiously  polite  ?"  asked 
Jack. 

"Quite  O.  K.  He's  nothing  to  grumble  at,"  replied 
Harvey. 

They  went  for  a  drive,  and  Jack  could  not  help  wonder- 
ing if  he  should  meet  with  Frank  Davis  in  England. 

If  Hunston  made  his  way  back,  and  Davis  really  went 
to  England,  he  would  have  two  determined  enemies  to 
contend  with. 

"I  don't  care,"  he  muttered,  in  his  dare-devil  way; 
"one's  only  got  one  arm,  and  the  other  minus  an  ear. 
What  is  the  good  of  a  man  with  only  one  ear?  Let  them 
rip,  they  can't  hurt  me." 


CHAPTER  XL. 

FRANK   DAVIS   AND    HIS   FATHER — PLOT   FOR   REVENGE — AH    SING 
THE   CHINAMAN— POPPY    LAND— AN   OPIUM   FACTORY. 

LIKE  most  young  men  of  a  daring  and  adventurous  dis- 
position, our  hero  was  apt  at  times  to  be  a  little  over  con- 
fident. 

It  is  easy  to  despise  an  enemy,  but  the  one  you  look 
upon  with  contempt  may  be  powerful  for  evil  against  you. 

Frank  Davis  was  mad  with  rage  at  the  loss  of  his  ear, 
which  of  course  disfigured  him  for  life. 

He  had  heard  of  artificial  legs,  arms,  and  eyes,  but 
never  of  an  artificial  ear. 

It  was  a  void  that  he  was  afraid  could  never  be  sup- 
plied. 

Being  of  a  vain  disposition,  he  thought  it  would  sadlj 
mar  his  appearance  in  the  eyes  of  the  ladies. 

He  felt  that  he  must  have  a  terrible  revenge  upon  Hark- 
away. 

On  his  way  home  he  called  at  the  house  of  a  doctoi 
who  had  attended  him  before. 

All  the  medical  man  could  do  for  him  was  to  stop  the 
bleeding,  and  put  some  salve  on  the  injured  part  to  allay 
the  pain. 

"  I  can  not  put  it  on,"  said  the  doctor,  as  Davis  unrolled 
the  piece  of  paper  in  which  the  ear  was  wrapped. 

"  Am  I  to  be  a  maimed  man  for  life? "  asked  Davis. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  225 

"Yes.     There  is  no  help  for  it." 

"Can't  I  have  a  substitute?" 

"Well,  you  might  get  one  in  London  or  Paris,  but  not 
in  Singapore.  How  did  it  happen?  " 

"An  enemy  tore  it  off.  Curse  him,  he  shall  repent  it. 
I  feel  as  if  I  could  shoot  or  stab  him." 

"  Do  nothing  rash.  Go  home,  consult  your  father,  and 
take  a  rest. " 

This  was  good  advice. 

Frank  paid  the  doctor  his  fee  and  went  away,  almost 
broken-hearted  at  his  disfigurement 

His  mother  had  been  dead  some  years,  and  he  lived 
alone  with  his  father. 

Mr.  Davis  senior's  Christian  name  was  Josiah.  He 
was  of  Jewish  extraction,  and  a  successful  merchant  in  the 
opium  line,  which  is  the  principal  trade  in  the  Straits 
Settlements. 

He  had  an  opium  factory  a  few  miles  out  of  Singapore, 
and  employed  a  number  of  Chinamen. 

These,  about  a  hundred  altogether,  lived  with  their 
families  close  by  in  a  village. 

Here  were  opium-smoking  dens,  Joss-houses,  Chinese 
tea-drinking  places,  gambling  shops,  and  other  attrac- 
tions peculiar  to  Chinese  communities. 

The  fields  of  poppies  from  which  the  opium  was  made 
was  quite  a  sight  when  in  flower. 

Many  visitors  came  from  Singapore  to  see  the  many 
miles  of  matchless  colour  waving  in  the  wind. 

The  country  residence  of  Mr.  Davis  was  not  more  than 
a  mile  from  his  opium  factory. 

It  was  here  that  Frank  betook  himself  when  he  left  the 
doctor,  whom  he  consulted  about  his  ear. 

The  millionaire  merchant  was  seated  in  his  study,  look- 
ing over  a  map  of  the  island. 

A  fine  property  was  offered  for  sale,  and  he  was  in- 
clined to  buy  it. 

Singapore  is  only  a  small  island,  about  twenty-seven 
miles  in  length  and  in  breadth  fourteen. 

Josiah  Davis  already  owned  a  goodly  portion  of  it. 

He  intended  it  all  for  his  son  Frank,  whom  he  loved  so 
much  and  was  so  proud  of. 

Frank  was  to  go  to  Oxford  University  in  England  soon, 
and  be  educated  like  an  English  gentleman. 
15 


226  JACK  HAKKA  WA  Y'S  ADVENTURES 

His  father  thought  he  was  very  handsome,  and  ought 
to  marry  the  daughter  of  a  lord  at  least. 

His  horror  can  be  easily  imagined  and  his  rage  pict- 
ured, when  Frank  entered  his  study  wounded. 

It  was  easy  to  see  at  a  glance  that  his  ear  was  missing, 
for  that  side  of  his  head  was  flat,  and  his  cheek  was 
smeared  with  blood. 

"Good  heaven  !  "  cried  Mr.  Davis.  "  Is  it  an  accident, 
or  the  deed  of  an  enemy  ?  " 

"The  latter." 

"You  are  disfigured  for  life,  my  poor  boy  !  "  said  his 
father,  feelingly. 

"Yes,"  snapped  Frank. 

"Who  did  it?  We  must  nave  a  terrible  revenge  for 
this.  What  did  Moses  say  when  he  gave  the  law  to  the 
Israelites,  who  are  our  own  people  ?  " 

"An  eye  for  an  eye,  and  a  tooth  for  a  tooth,  father." 

"Very  true.  You  shall  have  justice,  never  fear.  Tell 
me  all." 

Frank  did  not  hesitate  to  do  so. 

In  a  few  minutes  Josiah  Davis  had  heard  all  that  his 
son  could  tell  him  about  Jack  Harkaway  and  his  party. 

"  I  would  give  any  thing  I  possess,"  concluded  Frank, 
"  to  injure  him  as  he  has  injured  me,  or  to  kill  the  fellow 
right  out." 

"We  must  first  get  him  in  our  power,"  replied  the 
merchant. 

"  How  is  that  to  be  done? " 

"Let  me  think." 

Mr.  Davis  rested  his  chin  on  his  hand  and  appeared  to 
be  plunged  in  deep  thought. 

He  knew  well,  from  what  he  had  heard,  that  Jack  was 
wary  as  well  as  brave. 

In  addition  to  this  he  was  surrounded  by  friends. 

"My  opium  factory  is  a  source  of  attraction  to  visitors 
to  Singapore,"  said  Mr.  Davis  at  length.  "They  wind 
up  by  drinking  tea  at  Ah  Sing's  house  in  the  Chinese  vil- 
lage and  sometimes  smoke  a  pipe  of  opium  to  see  what 
it  is  like.  Ah  Sing  is  a  very  clever  fellow,  artful  as  a 
weasel.  If  Ah  Sing  could  entice  Harkaway  here,  some- 
thing might  be  done  towards  our  revenge." 

"Good!"  exclaimed  Frank,  nodding  his  head  approv- 
ingly. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE. 


227 


"Shall  we  try  it?" 

"Certainly  ;  it  is  a  first-rate  scheme.  What  will  you  do 
to  Harkaway  if  you  get  hold  of  him?  Cut  off  his  ear?  " 

"Father  Abraham  !  I'll  cut  them  both  off,"  roared  Mr. 
Davis. 

"Bravo  !     That's  your  sort  !  " 

"I'll  let  him  know  what  it  is  to  mutilate  my  son  ! " 

"I  can  scarcely  find  words  to  thank  you,"  said  Frank. 
"My  blood  is  boiling.  I  shall  never  rest  until  I  get  square 
with  that  man." 

"You  shall  do  so,  and  that,  too,  before  many  hours 
have  passed  over  your  head." 

"  It  is  necessary  to  act  quickly." 

"Why  so?" 

"Because  Harkaway  and  party  are  going  to  England 
by  the  mail  steamer  which  is  due  at  this  port  either  to- 
day or  to-morrow,"  said  Frank. 

"  She  will  not  be  here  fora  week,"  answered  Mr.  Davis. 

"  How  do  you  know  that  ?  " 

"I  had  a  telegram  this  morning  from  Malacca  stating 
that  her  machinery  had  broken  down,  and  that  she  had 
gone  into  dock  for  repairs." 

"That  is  excellent ;  it  will  give  us  time." 

"We  must  not  be  seen  in  the  matter,"  continued  the 
merchant.  "  I  must  study  my  good  name.  Ah  Sing  has 
been  foreman  in  my  employ  for  several  years ;  he  can 
not  refuse  to  do  any  thing  I  require." 

"Where  is  the  Chinaman  who  would  not  do  anything 
for  money  ? "  laughed  Frank. 

"True.  At  a  price,  John  Chinaman  will  break  every 
law  in  the  Decalogue." 

"  We  must  send  for  him,"  suggested  Frank. 

"I  expect  him  here  every  moment  with  a  report,"  re- 
plied Mr.  Davis,  adding,  "Ah  !  Frank.  You  shall  be  able 
to  laugh  as  well  as  this  wild  rover,  Harkaway." 

"I  heard  his  friend,  Harvey,  state  that  on  their  return 
to  England  they  intended  to  matriculate  at  Oxford,  and 
stay  there  until  they  graduated." 

"It  would  not  be  nice  for  him  to  point  to  your  one  ear, 
unless  you  could  point  out  that  he  had  none  at  all." 

"I  should  like  to  slit  his  nose,  too,  as  they  used  to  do 
in  the  days  of  the  Star  Chamber,"  cried  Frank. 

"No,  no.     It  will  not  be  right  to  overdo  the  thing." 


228  JACK  HAKKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"The  vicious  young  cub  deserves  it." 

"  Justice,  according  to  the  law  of  Moses,  you  shall  have," 
said  Mr.  Davis;  "an  ear  for  an  ear." 

' '  And  the  other  one  thrown  in  by  way  of  interest  or 
overweight,"  replied  Frank,  forcing  a  smile. 

"Of  course.  We  Hebrews  could  do  nothing  without 
interest " 

As  he  spoke,  a  Malay  servant  (nearly  all  work  in  those 
regions  is  done  by  Chinese  and  Malays)  announced  that 
his  excellency's  slave,  Ah  Sing,  humbly  demanded  an 
audience. 

"  Let  him  come  in  at  once,"  said  the  merchant. 

Ah  Sing  was  a  little,  spare-figured  man,  with  almond- 
shaped  eyes,  a  mouth  which  seemed  made  to  grin,  high 
cheek  bones,  and  an  expression  which  appeared  to  say, 
"  I  wasn't  born  yesterday." 

He  presented  a  sheet  of  paper  covered  with  figures, 
which  was  the  balance-sheet  of  the  week  at  the  opium 
works. 

"Taken  as  read,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Davis.  "We  will 
postpone  business,  as  I  have  something  else  to  talk  about, 
which  ought  to  put  a  thousand  dollars  into  your  pocket. " 

Ah  Sing's  eyes  glistened  with  inherent  cupidity. 

He  was  a  native  of  Canton. 

For  years  he  had  been  saving  all  the  money  he  could 
to  take  back  to  China,  where  he  intended  his  bones  should 
rest  when  he  died. 

"  Vellee  good,"  replied  Ah  Sing. 

The  Chinaman  husbanded  his  words,  as  if  he  thought 
that  talking  was  a  waste  of  energy. 

"  You  often  show  people  over  my  factory,  take  them  to 
your  tea-shop  in  Chinatown,  and  make  money  out  of 
them. " 

"You  not  tellee  me  that  wrongee,"  replied  Ah  Sing. 

"  I  am  not  saying  so  now." 

"Ah  Sing  makee  money  allee  samee  Englishmans. " 

"  I  have  heard  that  you  send  a  printed  circular  to  the 
hotels.  Have  you  one  in  your  possession  ?  If  so,  show 
it  me." 

Ah  Sing  did  not  hesitate  a  moment ;  he  knew  he  had 
his  master's  confidence.  If  he  supplemented  his  salary 
by  showing  strangers  over  the  opium  works,  and  taking 
them  to  his  tea-shop,  he  dir1  rot  rob  his  employer. 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  229 

His  accounts  were  always  satisfactory. 
He  put  his  hand  in  the  pocket  of  the  loose  dress  h 
wore  and  handed  Josiah  Davis  a  printed  paper. 
Its  contents  were  as  follows: — 

"In  the  name  of  the  sun,  moon  and  stars,  the  strictlj 
honourable  Ah  Sing  sendeth  greeting  to  all  intelligent 
strangers  staying  in  the  English  City  of  Singapore,  at 
which  all  ships  call. 

' '  Ah  Sing  is  the  head  of  the  great  opium  factory  at 
Chinatown.  Please  take  particular  notice. 

"He  is  also  proprietor  of  the  Pagoda  tea-house,  where 
you  can  have  the  best  Souchong,  Bohea,  and  Pekoe. 
N.B. — Leaves  not  coloured  ;  pure  tea. 

"There  are  rooms  to  experiment  in  smoking  the  opium 

e'pe,  which  will  produce  dreams  of  bliss.  It  is  a  cheap 
eaven.  NOTE. — This  is  true. 

"Come  for  a  drive  to  CUinatown  ;  only  five  miles  out. 
Ask  for  the  strictly  honourable  Ah  Sing. 

"  For  one  dollar,  OT  two  rupees,  he  will  show  each  one 
all,  and  can  refresh  with  tea  of  the  best,  and  pipe  at 
Pagoda  House  for  same  sum. 

"  The  poppies  in  fields  very  fine  view  just  now. 

' '  Ah  Sitg,  the  strictly  honourable  and  highly  consid- 
ered. 

"  Cniiatown  opium  works,  as  above. 

-*  Oi  your  kindly,  sentimental,  and  gentlemanly  favours 

f  o«g. 

"An  SING." 

Mr.  Davis  could  not  help  laughing  when  he  had  read 
this  comical  circular. 

It  showed  that  the  Chinaman  had  a  good  opinion  of 
himself. 

Frank  also  joined  in  the  mirth. 

"So,  you  rascal, "said  Mr.  Davis,  "that  is  how  you 
make  money  out  of  me  ? " 

Ah  Sing  bowed  politely,  and  indulged  in  a  quiet  grin. 

"  Must  livee  somehow,"  he  replied. 

"That  is  all  right ;  it  does  not  hurt  me,  so  long  as  you 
do  your  work.  Listen  !  " 

"Speakee.     The  recipient  of  your  bounty  is  notdeafee." 

"Take  one  of  your  precious  circulars  to   the   Hotel 


230  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  'S  AD  VENTURES 

Victoria  in  Singapore,  and  send  it  up  to  a  gentleman 
named  Harkaway." 

"Yes,  remember  namee  ;  the  honourable  Harkawayee." 

"  Persuade  him  to  come  to  the  Pagoda  tea-house.  You 
can  show  him  over  the  works  if  you  like,  but  do  not  men  - 
tion  my  name.  Get  him  to  smoke  opium  or  drug  him." 

Ah  Sing  looked  at  the  carpet  as  if  he  were  admiring  the 
pattern. 

"Do  you  hear  me ?  "  cried  Mr.  Davis. 

"One  thousand  dollars  for  only  thatee  thingee?"  the 
Chinaman  asked. 

' '  More  than  that.  When  this  young  man  is  stupefied, 
you  must  cut  off  his  ears. " 

"  Policemans  takee  me  then." 

"  Carry  him  out  amongst  the  poppies.  Do  it  in  a  field, 
and  he  will  not  be  able  to  prove  anything  against  you. 
All  he  will  know  when  he  wakes  up  will  be  that  his  ears 
are  gone." 

"Velleegood.  Me  do  it,  your  high  mightiness  excel- 
lent master.  I  see  about  it  this  afternoonee.  To-morrow 
I  will  be  an  attender  to  Harkawayee." 

"Don't  make  a  mull  of  it,"  said  Frank. 

Ah  Sing  assured  the  father  and  son  that  they  might  rely 
on  his  discretion,  and  after  being  given  some  refreshment 
he  retired  to  carry  out  the  preliminaries  of  this  nefarious 
scheme. 

Walking  back  to  Chinatown  through  the  poppy-fields, 
which  were  all  aglow  with  bloom,  he  gave  himself  up  to 
thought. 

The  town  was  composed  of  houses  built  of  wood,  dried 
in  the  hot  sun  ;  houses  which  would  burn  like  tinder  if 
they  once  caught  fire. 

At  the  Pagoda  tea-house,  which  was  his  domicile,  he 
obtained  a  mule  he  was  in  the  habit  of  riding,  and  started 
for  Singapore. 

He  put  on  a  bland,  child-like  and  inoffensive  air. 

It  was  well  calculated  to  deceive  anybody. 

No  one  would  have  thought  that  his  heart  was  full  of 
guile. 

As  the  sun  was  declining  in  the  west  in  a  flood  of  golden 
splendour,  he  arrived  at  the  city. 

Leaving  the  mule  in  a  stable,  Ah  Sing  walked  to  the 
hotel  where  Jack  Harkaway  and  his  friends  were  staying. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  23 1 

The  entire  service  of  the  hotel  was  conducted  by  China- 
men, who  rejoiced  in  long  pig-tails,  the  glory  of  their 
race. 

Accosting  one  of  his  countrymen,  the  indefatigable  Ah 
Sing  said — 

"  Havee  stayee  the  English  Mandarin,  Harkawayee?" 

"Yes,"  was  the  reply.      "First  floor  numberee  sixee." 

"  What  your  honourable  namee  ?  " 

"Hi  Chung." 

' '  Veree  vellee.  Hi !  here  is  halfee  dollar  to  let  me 
show  him  a  trade  letteree." 

"What  is  the  namee  of  your  esteemed  familee  ?  "  asked 
Hi  Chung. 

"  I  rejoice  in  the  time-honoured  name  of  Ah  Sing." 

"You  can  be  a  proceeder  to  numberee  sixee,  and  if 
there  are  any  forks  or  spoons  missing,  the  distinguished 
policeman  will  look  for  Ah  Sing." 

"We  are  not  a  stealee  familee,"  replied  Ah  Sing,  shak- 
ing his  pig-tail  angrily. 

"May  you  never  losee  your  hairee  !  "  said  Hi  Chung. 

This  remark  was  meant  to  convey  a  wish,  sarcastically 
expressed,  that  he  might  never  go  to  prison. 

The  first  operation  a  prisoner  is  subjected  to  on  enter- 
ing a  jail  is  to  have  his  hair  cut. 

A  Chinaman  holds  that  he  is  disgraced  for  life  if  his 
much  cherished  pig-tail  is  cut  off. 

As  he  kneels  on  the  hard  concrete  of  the  prison  floor, 
and  the  warder's  scissors,  as  large  as  shears,  snip  off  his 
pig-tail,  he  seems  to  undergo  excruciating  mental  agony. 

Ah  Sing  smiled,  waved  his  hand  paternally  to  Hi 
Chung,  and  went  upstairs. 

Harvey  had  a  slight  attack  of  ague,  and  having  taken 
a  strong  dose  of  quinine,  had  gone  to  bed. 

Jack  was  playing  a  game  of  chess  with  Professor  Mole, 
who  was  jubilant  at  having  checkmated  his  opponent. 

Emily  was  in  her  own  apartment,  preparing  for  dinner, 
which  would  be  served  in  about  an  hour. 

Monday  had  thrown  himself  down  in  a  corner  on  a 
rug,  and  was  dozing  like  a  cat. 

It  was  a  peculiarity  of  his  that  he  slept  with  one  eye 
and  one  ear  open. 

His  sense  of  hearing  was  so  acute,  that  he  could  hear 
the  slightest  sound. 


232  JA CK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  ADVENTURES 

"I  think,  Master  Jack,"  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole,  "that 
you  will  own  yourself  beaten  this  time." 

"It  is  only  the  first  game,  sir  ;  best  two  out  of  three, 
you  know,"  Jack  replied. 

"  Ah,  hum  !  That  is  one  way  of  getting  out  of  it ;  but 
perhaps  there  is  some  game  you  play  better  than  this. " 

' '  Don't  chaff. " 

"  If  so,  I  shall  be  glad  to  oblige  you." 

It  was  at  this  moment  that  Ah  Sing  arrived  outside 
number  six. 

The  disciple  of  Confucius  knocked  at  the  door. 

' '  Come  in  !  "  cried  Jack. 

The  terra-cotta  coloured  son  of  a  Mongolian  did  not 
hesitate  to  enter. 

He  smiled  unctuously,  as  only  a  Chinaman  can  smile, 
and  bowed. 

Advancing  to  Jack,  he  held  up  one  of  his  printed 
circulars. 

"For  the  high  and  mightee  mandarin,  Lord  Harka- 
wayee,"  he  said 

"Thank  you,"  replied  Jack.  "I'm  getting  on  in  the 
world.  I  didn't  know  I  had  been  raised  to  the  peerage  !  " 

"Be  a  condescender  and  readee  my  paperee." 

"  With  pleasure.     Sit  down." 

"It  is  not  for  me  to  sit  in  the  distinguished  presence  of 
so  great  a  mandarin." 

"All  right.     Stand  if  you  like,"  said  Jack. 

Mr.  Mole  looked  at  Jack  with  a  smile. 

"  That  observation  of  yours  reminds  me,"  he  remarked, 
"that  I  ought  to  ask  you  what  you  are  going  to  stand. 
I  vanquished  you,  and  to  the  victor  belong  the  spoils." 

"Have  what  you  like.  Ring  the  bell,  sir,  and  let  me 
read  this  heathen  Chinee's  effusion." 

"Is  it  good?  " 

"It  strikes  me  as  being  very  funny.  You  shall  see  it 
and  judge  for  yourself  presently." 

When  he  had  finished  reading  it,  he  gave  it  to  Mr.  Mole. 

"Opium-making,"  said  the  professor  ;  "that  must  be 
an  interesting  process.  I  should  much  like  to  see  it.  I 
vote  we  go.  It  will  be  a  new  experience  to  smoke  the 
pipe  of  peace." 

"The  poppy-fields,  I  hear,  are  lovely  in  the  extreme," 
Jack  remarked.  "  I  do  not  mind  smoking  a  pipe  of  opium 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  233 

for  the  fun  of  the  thing,  but  I  should  be  very  sorry  to  con- 
tract a  habit  of  it,  as  it  is  a  most  soul-deadening  custom." 

"  Horrible!  It  makes  a  slave  of  a  man.  I  say,  Mr. 
Strictly  Honourable  Ah  Sing,  what  part  of  China  do  you 
come  from? " 

"Canton,  most  venerable,"  replied  Ah  Sing. 

"Indeed!  I  have  a  tea-garden  the^e.  Did  you  ever 
hear  the  name  of  Mole  ?  " 

Ah  Sing  tapped  his  forehead  and  reflected  for  a  brief 
space. 

"  I  think  he  knows  you,  sir,"  said  Jack. 

"  Of  course  he  does.  They  must  have  heard  of  my  tea- 
garden.  You  talk  like  a  child." 

"  Canton  is  a  big  place." 

"Wait  and  hear  what  the  fellow  has  to  say ;  he  looks 
very  respectable  and  highly  intelligent." 

"Chinese  people  are  doubtful  characters,  sir." 

"You  are  easily  prejudiced.  Because  you  fancy  he  is 
going  to  say  something  good  of  me,  you  are  annoyed." 

' '  Not  at  all.     It  would  be  a  novelty. " 

"  Harkaway,  you  are  insulting.  My  age  ought  to 
entitle  me  to  respect,  but  you  are  my  boy.  I  helped  to 
educate  you  ;  I  brought  you  up  ;  I  taught  the  young  idea 
how  to  shoot ;  I  formed  your  mind,  and  made  you  the 
fine  character  you  are  ;  and  bless  you,  I  forgive  you. " 

"That  is  good  of  you,"  Jack  answered. 

"I  am  of  a  forgiving  disposition." 

"That  is  something  new  about  you." 

"Say  what  you  like,  it  is  a  censorious  world,  and  boys 
are  sadly  given  to  chaff." 

"I  am  not  a  boy  now — I  am  a  young  man  and  a 
gentleman." 

"What  am  I  ?"  asked  Mr.  Mole. 

"  Oh,  don't  ask  riddles  !  You  wouldn't  like  it  if  I  called 
you  an  old  humbug,"  replied  Jack  impatiently. 

"  Harkaway,  you  will  bring  my  grey  hairs  with  sorrow 
to  the  grave  !  " 

"Bosh!" 

"Harkaway,  you  are  like  a  lively  puppy;  you  will 
bark  away.  Be  you  silent." 

"  Well,"  said  Jack,  "  I  like  your  style,  old  man." 

Just  then  Ah  Sing  lifted  his  head. 

The  recollection  had  come  to  him. 


234  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"Yes,"  he  exclaimed,  "I  do  remember  one  of  your 
namee.  There  was  Ah  Fool  Mole." 

The  professor  reddened. 

His  ire  began  to  rise  rapidly. 

"  What  do  you  mean,  you  rascally  heathen  ?  "  he  cried. 

' '  Meanee  nothingee. " 

"  You  called  me  a  fool !  " 

"That  was  the  namee.     Ah  Fool !     China  namee. " 

"It  may  be  a  porcelain  name,  or  a  Bohemian  glass 
name,  as  well  as  a  China  one,  but  I  don't  like  it. " 

"Can't  helpee  that.  They  callee  him  so,"  replied 
Ah  Sing. 

"What  was  he?" 

"Carree  water.     Sell  in  the  streetee." 

"Common  water-carrier?"  gasped  the  professor. 

"  Yes  ;  no  goodee — no  goodee.' 

«'A  low  fellow  !" 

"  Veree  lowee,  till  they  raised  him  a  bit" 

"  Oh  !    they  raised  him  ? " 

"Yes,  they  raisee  Ah  Fool  Mole." 

The  professor  smiled  blandly. 

"You  see,  Jack,"  he  exclaimed,  "we  are  getting  at 
the  facts,  in  a  gradual  manner/' 

"  We  are  a  long  time  about  i:,"  replied  Jack. 

"Don't  be  impatient" 

"  It  is  a  long  yarn  and  a  tough  one,  sir." 

"  Don't  you  wish  to  hear  about  my  namesake  in 
Canton,  China?" 

"Ah  Fool  Mole?" 

"  Do  you  want  to  hear  or  not  ?  " 

"  I  don't  particularly  care  about  it,  though  it  may  be 
family  history,  my  dear  sir." 

"  Don't  be  unkind     Will  you  listen  ?  " 

Jack  crossed  his  legs  and  lighted  a  cigarette. 

"Anything  for  a  quiet  life,"  he  answered.  "Go 
ahead." 

"You  will  see  that  Ah  Fool— I  don't  like  the  name " 

"It  is  good  enough  for  you  J " 

"Will  you  be  quiet?" 

' '  Go  ahead,  I  say. " 

"You  will  see  that  Ah  Fool  went  to  the  front  like  a 
solid  man  ;  he  elevated  himself,"  continued  the  professor. 

"  I  hope  so." 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE,  235 

"Just  wait.  Now,  my  Celestial  friend,  go  on  with  your 
story.  What  became  of  my  namesake  ?  " 

Ah  Sing  rolled  his  almond  eyes. 

"  They  raisee  him,"  he  replied 

"In  what  way?  " 

"They  hangee  him  !  " 

Mr.  Mole  jumped  about  a  foot  in  the  air. 

' '  What !  "  he  cried.     ' '  Hanged  him  ?  " 

"Yes,  hangee  Ah  Fool  Mole." 

"You  lying  scoundrel !     What  for?  " 

"He  killee  a  man,  to  rob  him  of  a  dollar,"  answered 
Ah  Sing. 

With  a  gasp  Mr.  Mole  sank  into  a  chair. 

"  I  won't  believe  it,"  he  said. 

"The  man  lived  in  Canton  before  he  came  here,  and  he 
ought  to  know,  sir,"  Jack  replied. 

' '  It's  a  base  libel  on  a  respectable  family. " 

"Certainly  it  is  a  blot  on  your  escutcheon — I'll  admit 
that ;  but  perhaps  you  weren't  born  to  be  drowned." 

"Thank  you." 

"  Oh,  don't  mention  it,"  said  Jack,  carelessly. 

"You  mean  to  insinuate  that  I  ought  to  be  hanged,  or 
shall  be  hanged.  '* 

"  Like  your  namesake,  Ah  Fool  Mole,  of  Canton  ?  " 

"  Do  you  intend  to  convey  that'? " 

"  People  don't  always  get  their  deserts,  sir,"  was  Jack's 
answer. 

"  You  are  quick  at  repartee,  but  allow  me  to  tell  you 
that  people  can  be  too  sharp. " 

"What  about  Ah  Fool  Mole,  of  Canton,  who " 

"  Drop  it" 

"Who  was — er — elevated?" 

"  No  connection  of  mine,  Harkaway.  I  wouldn't  Own 
him." 

"Uncle  or  cousin,  sir  ?  " 

"I  wouldn't  find  him,"  replied  the  professor.  "He 
does  not  exist  in  my  genealogical  tree." 

' '  Some  kind  of  relation.  I  hope  the  complaint  does 
not  run  in  the  family." 

"No  more  ;  drop  it.  The  subject  is  distasteful  to  me. 
I  would  not  have  Ah  Fool — hate  the  name  ! — in  my  family 
as  a  gift." 

Jack  laughed. 


236  JA  CK  HARK  A  WAY'S  AD  VEN1  URES 

1 '  Oh,  you  can  grin, "  said  Mr.  Mole.  **  I've  seen  a  donkey 
laugh  when  he  came  across  a  thistle." 

"Were  you  gazing  in  a  looking-glass,  sir?  " 

"  Will  you  hold  your  tongue  ?  " 

"  Can't  do  it,  sir.  It's  a  way  I've  got,"  answered 
Jack. 

While  they  were  engaged  in  this  animated,  but  some- 
what acrimonious  discussion,  Ah  Sing  had  strayed  to  a 
side  table. 

On  it  was  a  galvanic  battery  in  a  wooden  case. 

It  was  charged  up  to  five  hundred  volts. 

Jack  had  bought  it  for  Emily,  who  had  not  been  very 
strong  lately. 

The  doctor  said  H  would  tone  up  her  nervous  system. 

There  were  two  brass  knobs  to  hold,  one  in  each 
hand. 

Somebody  had  to  turn  a  handle,  and  the  electricity  was 
conveyed  to  the  person  holding  the  knobs. 

It  was  impossible  to  let  go  while  the  shock  lasted. 

If  the  handle  of  the  machine  were  turned  violently,  the 
one  who  held  the  knobs  suffered  great  pain,  the  whole 
system  being  convulsed  with  electricity. 

When  the  handle  ceased  turning,  the  current  was 
stopped. 

Mr.  Mole  noticed  that  Ah  Sing  was  looking  curiously 
at  the  instrument 

"  My  friend,"  he  said,  "  do  you  wish  to  investigate  the 
mysteries  of  science  ?  " 

"  What  kind  of  thingee  is  this  ?  "  asked  Ah  Sing. 

"  A  revigorator.  It  puts  new  life  into  you  ;  it  is  better 
than  all  the  massage  and  electric  belts." 

"Me  tryee  it" 

"If  you  like." 

Jack  nudged  the  professor's  arm. 

' '  Let  him  alone, "  he  whispered. 

"  Not  I,"  replied  Mole.  "  111  pay  him  out  for  Ah  Fool. 
I'll  give  him  a  twister,  or  I'm  not  here." 

"  You  are  vindictive." 

"  Listen  to  his  death- wail  in  a  minute." 

"Spare  him." 

"Not  I." 

"The  strong  ought  always  to  be  merciful,"  remarked 
Jack. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  237 

"  I'd  like  to  flay  him  alive,  the  rascal.  Ill  Ah  Fool 
him,  see  if  I  don't." 

"  He  couldn't  help  it  if  your  relation  was  hanged." 

' '  It's  a  falsehood  ;  he  was  not. " 

"Ah  Sing,  the  strictly  honourable,  says  so." 

"  He's  a — well,  I  won't  use  bad  language  ;  it  is  unbe- 
coming for  one  in  my  position  to  do  so,  though  I  am 
sorely  tried.  Wait  a  while." 

"What  for?" 

"  I'll  make  an  example  of  him." 

Saying  this,  Mr.  Mole  walked  up  to  Ah  Sing. 

"Take  the  brass  knobs  in  your  hands,"  he  exclaimed. 

"That  veree  simplee,"  replied  Ah  Sing. 

He  did  as  he  was  directed. 

"  Hold  tight,"  continued  the  professor. 

"You  bettee." 

"Are  you  ready  ?" 

"Alice  rightee.  Me  readee ;  go  aheadee,"  answered 
Ah  Sing. 

Mr.  Mole  turned  the  handle  of  the  battery. 

The  electric  current  began  to  run  up  Ah  Sing's  arms, 
and  pervade  his  body. 

He  writhed,  twisted,  and  contorted  himself. 

"  Stoppee,  stoppee  !  "  he  cried. 

"Not  yet.     You're  in  for  it,  my  friend,"  replied  Mole. 

"  Oh,  ough  !     I  can  not  bearee  it !  " 

"You'll  have  to.     I'll  make  you  skip  lively." 

Ah  Sing  began  to  dance  like  a  bear  on  hot  bricks. 

"Leavee  off!  "he  yelled.  "Devil's  gottee  hold  of 
me ! " 

"I'll  give  you  Ah  Fool !  " 

Mr.  Mole  continued  to  turn  the  handle  vigorously. 

The  perspiration  rolled  in  streams  down  the  contorted 
face  of  Ah  Sing. 

The  unfortunate  Chinaman  shouted,  stamped  and 
struggled,  but  all  in  vain. 

He  was  utterly  powerless  to  let  go  the  handles,  which 
by  electric  force  had  him  as  in  a  vi<~e. 

His  hair  bristled,  and  his  long  pigtail  swung  to  and  fro 
like  the  pendulum  of  a  clock. 

"  Ah  Fool  Mole,  am  I  ? "  said  the  professor,  slackening 
the  electric  current  a  little. 

"  Notee  you,"  replied  Ah  Sing. 


238  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"Who  then?" 

"Your  relations  in  Canton.  Lettee  go.  Me  be  a  par- 
alysee  soon  !  " 

"  Not  before  you  apologise." 

"  Me  makee  a  mistakee.     Veree  soiree." 

"  You  never  knew  a  relation  of  mine  of  that  name." 

"  Notee  Mole.     Thinkee  now,  it  was  Cole." 

"Ah  Fool  Cole.  That  is  more  like  it  Cole,  you  see, 
Jack,  Cole  ;  he  has  mixed  the  names  up. " 

"Release  him,  sir,"  replied  Jack.  "We  all  know  you 
are  an  awful  mole  at  times." 

"  Do  you  join  in  as  well  in  ridiculing  your  mentor  and 
instructor — your  faithful  Achates,  who  has  accompanied 
you  in  your  Odyssey  ?  " 

' '  Cut  the  Greek  references,  sir,  and  come  to  the  busi- 
ness of  the  evening." 

"I  will,  and  more  than  that,  I  will  give  you  a  glass  of 
the  finest  wine  you  ever  tasted,"  said  Mr.  Mole. 

" Bravo  !     You  are  a  brick." 

The  professor  released  Ah  Sing,  who  trembled  for  a 
little  while,  but  did  not  seem  much  the  worse  for  the 
galvanism  he  had  been  subjected  to. 

In  fact  he  was  more  frightened  than  hurt. 

Electricity,  except  in  the  shape  of  a  thunder-storm,  was 
an  entirely  new  thing  to  him. 

"  How  do  you  feel  now,  my  Cochin  China  rooster?" 
asked  Mr.  Mole  in  a  jocular  tone. 

"  Me  feelee  like  jumpee  over  the  moonee,"  answered 
Ah  Sing,  whose  nerves  were  yet  quivering. 

"Was  it  nice?" 

"  Bad.     Me  glad  it  all  overee." 

"  You  shall  have  a  little  wine.  I  did  not  tell  you,  Jack, 
that  I  bought  a  quarter-cask  of  imported  Cadiz  sherry 
yesterday,  and  had  it  put  in  yonder  cupboard,  tapped  and 
ready  for  use.  I  am  not  able  to  bear  the  hotel-charges 
for  wines.  Let  the  Heathen  Chinee  wait  on  us." 

"If  the  strictly  honourable  and  highly  respectable  one, 
will  condescend  to  do  so,"  replied  Jack. 

"Ha,  ha  !     Let  him  refuse,  that  is  all !  " 

"You  have  been  sampling  that  sherry,  sir,  on  the  strict 
Q.T.,  haven't  you?" 

"  Only  a  glass  or  two — a  mere  trifle.  It  is  very  good 
though  ;  I  can  recommend  it." 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE. 


239 


"Don't  irritate  the  Celestial  too  much." 

"Bah!  In  the  language  of  the  ring,  what  price  a 
Mongolian  or  a  Malay  in  a  conflict  with  me  ?  Pish  !  I 
should  pulverise  him  !  "  said  the  professor,  snapping  his 
ringers  contemptuously  at  Ah  Sing. 

"We  all  know  you  are  brave,  sir." 

"  Have  I  not  proved  it  in  a  dozen  fights  of  Homeric 
dimensions  ?  I  am  a  very  Ajax  for  valour  1  " 

"  I'm  sure  you  deserve  the  Victoria  Cross." 

"  Pshaw  !  The  only  cross  I  bear  is  the  worry  of  look- 
ing after  and  taking  care  of  you." 

"Don't  you  like  it?" 

"No,  I  do  not,  frankly." 

"Then  you  know  what  you  can  do." 

"  What  is  that  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Mole. 

"  Do  the  other  thing — lump  it,"  replied  Jack. 

The  professor  sighed  deeply. 

"Oh,  the  ingratitude  of  the  rising  generation!"  he 
groaned.  "Boys  were  very  different  when  I  was  young 
to  what  they  are  now.  I  was  taught  to  respect  my  elders  : 
you  scoff  at  them." 

"Do  I  scoff  well,  sir?     I  like  to  do  everything  well." 

"Alas  !  too  well,"  replied  Mr.  Mole,  "and  well  I  know 
it  You  blight  my  life  ;  yes — you  are  a  blighter." 

"  Thank  you.     That  is  a  new  name." 

"I  can  conscientiously  call  you  nothing  but  a  blighter. 
You  were  told  in  your  boyhood  days  that,  to  have  faith- 
fully learnt  the  fine  arts,  and  acquired  softened  manners, 
would  prevent  people  from  being  fierce  and  wild.  You 
drive  me  to  drink." 

"  It  strikes  me  you  do  not  want  much  driving." 

"Peace!  Enough  of  this.  Friend  Sing,  take  this 
key  :  it  turns  the  tap  of  the  sherry  cask." 

"Turnee  the  tapee?  "  asked  Ah  Sing. 

"Yes.  In  the  cupboard,  on  the  shelf,  you  will  find  a 
crystal  jug  and  glasses.  Draw  the  wine,  as  Horace — 
dear,  good,  old  convivial  Horace — sings,  in  the  First  Book 
of  Odes.  I  thrashed  you  once  for  not  construing  that 
correctly,  Harkaway — you  must  remember  it.  Now  is 
the  time  to  drink ;  now  we  will  beat  the  earth  with  a 
quick  foot,  which  is  a  synonym  for  dancing." 

"  I'm  not  at  school  now,  thank  goodness." 

"Ingrate!" 


240  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  VS  AD  VENTURES 

"Go  on,  sir,  call  me  names." 

"  Let  me  speak  of  Anacreon,  who  loved  to  see  the  ruby 
wine  sparkle  in  the  cup,  what  time  his  slave  held  it  for 
him  !  Ah  Sing  shall  be  my  Ganymede." 

"Shut  up,"  said  Jack,  who  did  not  feel  classically  in- 
clined. 

"  You  know  those  lines  beginning " 

"  Hire  a  hall  if  you  want  to  spout,  and  give  a  lec- 
ture. " 

"  Has  contact  with  savages  blunted  your  mind  and 
deadened  your  soul  to  a  sense  of  the  sublime  and 
beautiful  ?  " 

"Give  us  a  rest,"  cried  Jack,  impatiently. 

Mr.  Mole  turned  up  the  whites  of  his  eyes. 

"  O  tempora,  O  mores,"  he  muttered. 

While  this  conversation — if  a  one-sided  dialogue  can  be 
dignified  with  that  name — was  going  on,  Ah  Sing  had 
opened  the  cupboard  and  drawn  the  wine. 

But  the  wily  Chinaman  had  done  more  than  that. 

He  intended  to  have  his  revenge  on  Mr.  Mole  for  tha 
galvanic  shock  he  had  received. 

When  he  had  drawn  the  wine,  he  threw  the  key  into  a 
dark  corner  and  left  the  tap  running. 

"  Ha  !  "  exclaimed  the  professor,  "  this  is  something  like 
wine.  It  cost  me  a  large  sum  ;  it  is  an  old,  high-priced 
wine.  Superlativa,  the  merchants  who  meet  on  the  Rialto 
call  it." 

"  That's  a  good  word,  sir;  I'd  have  that  stuffed,"  said 
Jack. 

'  None  of  your  nonsense,  if  you  please." 
'When  stuffed,  put  in  a  glass  case." 

'  Superlativa  is " 

'  We  don't  want  too  much   '  Superlativa,  sir,  but  just 
enough  ;  any  more  would  be  a  superfluity." 
'Taste  it." 
'  With  all  the  pleasure  in  life." 

Mr.  Mole  filled  three  glasses,  when  suddenly  his  ear 
heard  a  noise  as  of  water  running  rapidly. 

He  cast  his  eye  towards  the  cupboard. 

The  truth  became  apparent  in  a  moment. 

Ah  Sing  had  not  turned  the  tap  off,  and  his  special 
Superlativa,  imported  from  Cadiz,  in  Spain,  was  running 
rapidly  to  waste. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  24l 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  wine  had  never  seen  Spain, 
but  was  a  vile  decoction  manufactured  at  the  Cape. 

There  were  a  dozen  headaches  and  other  aches  in  every 
quart  of  it,  as  anyone  who  has  drunk  Cape  wine  will 
testify. 

"You  scoundrel ! "  cried  Mr.  Mole,  "  turn  that  tap  off. 
You've  left  it  running." 

Ah  Sing  ran  to  the  cupboard. 

"Stoppee  the  tappee  !  "  he  said. 

"Yes,  quick;  all  my  wine  will  runaway.  Think  of 
the  cost  of  it !  The  ceiling  below  will  be  soaked— the 
carpets  all  spoiled.  Won't  they  bring  me  in  a  bill  Here's 
another  blight !  Oh,  you  idiot !  You,  you  " 

"Can't  findee  the  key,"  Ah  Sing  answered. 

"What  have  you  done  with  it  ?  " 

"It  has  fallen  somewhere.    Can  not  tellee  where." 

"  Look  for  it,  you  son  of  a  sea-cook." 

"Oh,  the  language,  sir  !  "  put  in  Jack.  "  Did  the  gentles 
manly  Horace  speak  like  that?  " 

"  I'll  make  him  feel  worse  than  a  boiled  owl  presently." 

"Is  that  according  to  Anacreon,  sir?" 

"The  wretched  blighter!  I'll  do  for  him  ;  I'll  be  the 
death  of  the  Heathen,"  shouted  Mr.  Mole. 

Ah  Sing  looked  at  Jack. 

"  You  comee  to-morrow,"  he  said. 

"  That's  settled,"  replied  Jack. 

"  Alice  righ tee." 

Saying  this,  Ah  Sing  dodged  a  cnair  and  a  couple  of 
spittoons  that  Mole  threw  at  him,  and  ran  out  of  the  room. 

Going  to  the  cupboard,  the  professor  looked  ruefully  at 
the  cask,  from  which  the  wine  was  running  as  fast  as  it 
could. 

"Oh,  dear!"  he  exclaimed,  " this  is  indeed  a  blight. 
I  shall  have  to  turn  the  cask  base  over  apex." 

"  Is  that  English  for  upside  down  ?  " 

"Nevermind  the  interpretation.  Here  goes.  I  will 
save  all  I  possibly  can." 

As  he  spoke,  the  professor  put  the  cask  on  end,  and  the 
flow  at  once  stopped. 

Harkaway  tasted  the  wine. 

"  I  say,"  he  cried,  "  where  did  you  get  this  stuff?  * 

"What's  the  matter  with  ;i?  " 

"I  call  it  sudden  death.'' 
16 


942  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  'S  AD  VENTURES, 

"My  dear  boy,"  replied  Mr.  Mole,  "your  taste  is  not 
educated," 

"I  know  good  wine  from  bad." 

' '  Ah  !  you  have  a  lot  to  learn.  I  will  go  out  for  a  walk 
and  see  the  shipping  in  the  harbour ;  I  love  a  ship.  I  go 
on  board,  I  give  my  card  to  the  purser,  and  seeing  that  I 
am  a  learned  man  and  a  traveller,  he  treats  me  with " 

"Whisky  !  "  Jack  interrupted. 

' '  No  ;  with  respect." 

Putting  his  hat  on,  Mr.  Mole  strode  away  indignantly. 

Scarcely  was  he  gone  than  Monday  sprang  up  from  the 
skin  on  which  he  had  been  lying. 

' '  Hullo,  ebony,  what's  the  matter  with  you  ?  "  Jack  en- 
quired. 

"Mast*  Jack,  'um  want  to  speak  to  you,"  replied 
Monday. 

There  was  a  strange  light  in  his  eyea 


CHAPTER  XLL 

MONDAY  GOES  ON  A  LITTLE  JOURNEY  AND  ENCOUNTERS  MORE 
ADVENTURES  THAN  HE  BARGAINED  FOR. 

JACK  always  paid  the  greatest  attention  to  any  thing  that 
came  from  Monday. 

He  had  faith  in  the  sagacity  of  his  black  servant  and 
companion. 

"  Out  with  it ;  I'm  listening,"  he  said. 
"You  and  Mist'  Mole  going  to-morrow  to  that  China- 
man's house,  sah  ? "  asked  Monday. 

"Yes,  just  for  the  fun  of  the  thing,  and  to  while  away 
the  time.  We  are  stuck  here  for  another  week  owing  to 
the  breakdown  of  the  mail-steamer  for  Europe,  you 
know." 

'  Ah  Sing  am  one  rascal  thief." 
'  How  can  you  tell  ?  " 

'Very  easy,  sah,"  answered  Monday.  "Nature  write 
it  on  um  bad,  bold,  yet  cunning  face." 

'  I  thought  he  looked  as  guileless  and  simple  as  a  child. " 
'  Put   all  dat  on.     Chinaman  got  a  different  face   for 
ebery  hour  io  the  day." 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  243 

"Are  they  such  a  bad  lot  then  ? " 

"The  worst  in  the  world,"  said  Monday  ;  "everybody 
%tf!l  you  so.  No  Chinamen  in  Heaven  !  The  Lord  won't 
hab  nuffin'  to  do  with  them.  Where  Ah  Sing  live  ?  " 

"At  a  place  called  Chinatown.  He  is  manager  of  an 
opium  factory,  and  runs  a  tea-house  and  smoke-room. 
Calls  his  drum  the  Pagoda,  I  think." 

"Think  I  go  there,"  observed  Monday. 

"  What  for  ?     Do  you  smoke  opium  ? " 

"The  Lord  forbid.  Bad  habit  that,  Mast'  Jack;  play 
Old  Nick  with  the  nervous  system.  Don't  mind  a  pipe  ob 
good,  sound,  honest  tobacco,  but  bar  smoke  opium-joint" 

"  What  are  you  going  to  Chinatown  for,  then  ?  " 

"Jes'  to  take  a  little  journey,  Mast'  Jack,  and  find  out 
who  dis  Ah  Sing  chap  is." 

"Precisely  what  1  have  told  you,"  replied  Harkaway. 

"That  is  his  story ;  not  good  enough  for  dis  child.  Ah 
Sing  got  mighty  bad  face  ;  me  not  like  um.  Berry  likely 
him  visit  all  one  big  plant  to  hurt  you." 

"  How  can  that  be  ?  " 

"You  forgot  Frank  Davis  already?"  queried  Monday. 
"  If  so,  you  got  berry  poor  memory." 

"  I  don't  think  we  shall  be  troubled  by  him.  I  sickened 
him  when  I  nailed  his  ear  up." 

"Who  told  you  that  he  had  forgiven  him  injury  like 
that  ?  Jes'  very  thing  to  rankle  in  um  mind.  You  sit 
down  and  think  all  safe.  Bah  !  you  what  street  boys  call 
um  mug.  Hab  more  sense,  sah  !  " 

"Don't  bother  me.  I  shall  go  and  see  Ah  Sing  to- 
morrow," persisted  Jack. 

"  Me  go  to-night  and  find  out." 

"I  hope  to  have  a  lark  with  Sing  and  Mole.  Did  you 
hear  Sing  tell  the  professor  that  in  Canton  he  knew  an 
Ah  Fool  Mole?  It  made  me  laugh,  but  didn't  Mole  get 
savage  ?  " 

"  Me  hear  and  see,  too.  Mist'  Mole  so  mad  he  hop  on 
one  leg." 

"  He  soon  loses  his  temper  now,  but  he  was  always, 
rather  thin-skinned  and  touchy,"  remarked  Jack. 

"Um  got  good  heart  all  same,   sah,"  replied  Monday. 

"Yes  ;  he  is  very  faithful  and  affectionate." 

"  T'ink  all  the  world  ob  you,  Mast'  Jack.  Jes'  same  a> 
Monday.  Bleeve  both  die  for  you,  if  want  um. " 


3 44  JA CK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  ADVENTURES 

Jack  smiled  pleasantly  at  this  speech,  which  showed 
how  highly  esteemed  he  was  by  those  about  him. 

"  I  hope  I  shall  never  have  occasion  to  call  upon  either 
of  you  to  make  such  a  sacrifice,"  he  rejoined. 

"  Hab  a  glass  of  Mist'  Mole's  wine,  then  I  be  off  to  see 
what  kind  of  a  person  this  Ah  Sing  is." 

"  Help  yourself." 

Monday  poured  out  a  glass,  drank  it,  and  made  a  wry 
face. 

"What  kind  of  stuff  you  call  this,  Mast'  Jack?"  he 
asked.  "  It  um  worse  than  a  sour  grape.  Pah  !  not  up 
to  much.  Kind  of  hog's  wash,  I  should  t'ink." 

"  Some  one  has  imposed  on  Mole.  He  thinks  it  is  fine 
wine. " 

"Want  to  insure  um  life  before  anyone  drink  much  of 
this.  It  what  the  sailors  call  very  bad  booze.  No  more." 

"  Declined  with  thanks,  as  the  editor  said  to  the  school- 
girl's poem,"  observed  Jack. 

"Missey  Emily  go  with  you  to-morrow  to  opium 
place  ?  "  asked  Monday. 

"No,  I  sha'n't  take  her.  That  kind  of  thing  wouldn't 
interest  a  lady." 

"  Mast' Harvey  too  much  sick  with  ague  to  go.  Jes' 
you  and  Mist'  Mole,  that  is  all.  I  see.  Well,  I  proceed 
first,  and  if  there  any  scheme  on  to  hurt  you,  I  find  um 
out  and  give  you  warning." 

"Good  old  Monday,"  exclaimed  Jack. 

Monday  grinned,  showing  his  white  teeth,  and  was  off 
like  a  shot. 

While  pretending  to  be  asleep  on  the  skins,  he  had 
listened  and  narrowly  watched  Ah  Sing's  sallow  counte- 
nance. 

In  the  hall  of  the  hotel  he  saw  Hi  Chung,  the  waiter 
who  had  spoken  to  Ah  Sing  on  his  entrance. 

Monday  had  a  supreme  contempt  for  all  Chinese,  think- 
ing the  men  of  Limbi  and  even  the  Pisangs  far  superior. 

The  Chinese  returned  the  compliment  by  hating  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Malay  Peninsula. 

At  the  same  time  they  dreaded  them  as  a  brave,  fierce, 
and  warlike  race,  which  the  Chinese  certainly  are  not. 

"Hi,  hi!  Mist'  Hi  Chung,"  cried  Monday.  "You  tell 
me  the  way  to  a  place  called  Chinatown  ? " 

"Veree  vellee.     It  is  the  road  out  of  the  city  on  the 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  24? 

rightee.  A  sign-post  will  direct  more  nearee,"  replied  Hi 
Chung.  "Do  you  go  to  the  strictly  honourable,  highly 
intelligent,  and  magnificently  uprightee  Ah  Sing  ?  " 

"That  is  my  business,  not  yours.  You  half-washed 
niggers  are  too  cheeky,"  cried  Monday  ;  "and  as  for  um 
friend,  Ah  Sing,  I  wouldn't  trust  him  with  the  care  of  one 
single  dollar." 

"  Halfee-washee,  eh?  What  kind  of  nigger  you  callee 
yourself?  "  demanded  Hi  Chung. 

"I'm  one  of  the  dandy  kind  from  um  island  of  Limbi, 
where  we  eat  every  morning  a  Chinaman  for  um  break- 
fast. I'll  eat  you. " 

"Cannibal,  eatee  manee  I " 

"That  is  the  sort  of  a  nigger  I  am,  you  bet,"  said 
Monday,  opening  his  mouth  wide. 

The  Chinaman  was  alarmed. 

He  fell  on  his  knees  in  a  state  of  abject  terror. 

"No  eatee  me,"  he  cried.  "Me  veree  sorry  to  be 
cheekee  to  so  distinguished  a  person.  Your  high  might" 
iness  will  forgive  the  humblest  of  your  slaves." 

"  Mind  you  are  always  as  civil  as  this,  or  I'll  have  your 
pig-tail.  Remember  who  I  am  in  future  ! " 

Saying  this,  Monday  gave  Hi  Chung  a  kick  which  sent 
him  sprawling  several  feet  up  the  hall. 

"Pah  !  "  he  muttered,  as  he  quitted  the  hotel,  "Chinese 
no  good,  except  to  lie  and  steal  money  to  gamble  with. 
One  must  kick  um  to  make  um  civil." 

Hi  Chung  got  up  and  bowed. 

"Thankee  veree  muchee,  O  Lord  of  the  White 
Elephant !  "  he  exclaimed  mildly. 

Taking  no  heed  of  him,  Monday  walked  in  the  direction 
indicated,  and  soon  found  the  road  leading  to  China- 
town. 

' '  Mast'  Jack  too  easy, "  he  muttered,  ' '  too  trusting  in  his 
own  strength.  Me  find  out  all ;  Monday  business  man 
up  to  date.  Soon  see  what  Ah  Sing  is  about,  and  not  be 
long-winded  over  it  either." 

Acquaintance  with  civilisation  had  taught  Monday 
many  things  which  he  had  never  dreamed  of  in  his  island 
of  Limbi. 

Among  these  was  the  practise  of  carrying  an  umbrella 
in  one  hand  to  keep  off  the  sun,  and  a  fan  in  the  other  to 
brush  off  those  everlasting  pests,  the  flies  and  mosquitoes. 


2  46  JA  CK  HA  RKA  WAY'S  AD  VENTURES 

By  the  time  he  arrived  at  Chinatown,  he  was  tired  and 
thirsty. 

He  had  imbibed  a  liking  for  tea,  and  was  looking  for- 
ward to  a  cup  of  the  refreshing  beverage. 

Almost  one  of  the  first  buildings  that  attracted  his  at- 
tention was  the  Pagoda  house. 

A  signboard,  with  English  writing  on,  informed  every- 
body that  it  was  kept  by  the  highly  respectable  and 
strictly  honourable  Ah  Sing,  formerly  of  Canton,  China. 

Chinese  lanterns  hung  over  the  verandahs  under  which 
people  were  sitting  at  small  tables  drinking  tea. 

There  were  also  rooms  inside  where  parties  could  make 
themselves  comfortable. 

Ah  Sing  was  standing  at  the  door  with  a  big  fan  in  his 
hand,  and  a  cheroot  in  his  mouth,  one  of  the  best  that 
Manilla  could  produce. 

"Good-evening,"  said  Monday.  "I  have  come  from 
Singapore  to  drink  some  tea  and  smoke  some  pipe. 
Everyone  talk  so  much  of  um  Pagoda  house." 

"Everything  of  the  very  fine  best,"  replied  Ah  Sing. 
"Souchong,  Bohea,  Pekoe,  that  is  delicate  green  leafee, 
lovalee  flavour.  Sittee  downee. " 

"Will  you  join  me  in  a  cup  ?     I  will  pay." 

"  Withee  pleasure,"  answered  Ah  Sing. 

"I  am  of  the  highly  respectable,  and  I  can  see  you  are 
the  samee." 

' '  What  you  charge  for  um  cup  ?  " 

"Quarter  of  a  dollar  to  a  well-connected,  true-bred 
gentleman  like  you,  descended  from  the  firstee  familees. " 

Monday  sat  down  under  the  verandah  at  a  small  table 
by  himself,  and  presently  Ah  Sing  joined  him,  bearing 
the  teapot  and  two  cups  on  a  tray. 

"I  waiteeon  you,"  he  said,  "instead  ofmyservantees. 
Wantee  to  talkee  ?  " 

"As  you  please." 

"  Where  you  comee  from  ?  " 

"Nowhere  in  particular,"  answered  Monday  ;  "a  place 
called  Limbi. " 

Ah  Sing  shook  his  head. 

"Not  knowee,"  he  replied.  " So  many  islands  round 
here.  What  your  business  ?  " 

"Big  merchant,"  said  Monday;  "I  trade  in  sponges 
and  shells." 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  247 

"  Spongees  and  shellees.     Good  !  " 

"What  do  you  do  besides  keeping  this  tea-house  ?  "  in- 
quired Monday,  with  an  innocent  far-away  look  in  his 
eyes. 

Clever  as  Ah  Sing  undoubtedly  was,  he  did  not  think 
that  Monday  was  fishing  for  information. 

"  Manage  large  opium  factory  for  high-class  mandarin," 
was  the  ready  reply. 

"What  is  his  name ? " 

"Davis." 

At  hearing  this  answer,  Monday  nearly  let  his  teacup 
fall  from  his  hand,  but  he  controlled  himself. 

"  You  feelee  badee  ?  "  asked  Ah  Sing. 

"Oh,  no.  Um  got  a  touch  of  the  country  ague.  Make 
um  hand  shake,  that  is  all,"  replied  Monday. 

Other  customers  came  in,  and  Ah  Sing,  the  strictly 
honourable,  went  away  to  attend  to  them  in  person. 

Monday  was  convinced,  when  he  heard  that  the  China- 
man was  the  manager  of  Mr.  Davis's  opium  factory,  that 
there  was  a  plot  on  foot. 

He  waited,  however,  for  further  developments. 

Nothing,  however,  occurred  to  arrest  his  attention. 

He  called  tor  a  cigar,  and  smoked  it  placidly,  being  very 
fond  of  smoking,  which  was  a  habit  he  had  acquired  from 
the  sailors  on  board  ship. 

He  was  not  aware  that  all  the  cigars  sold  by  Ah  Sing 
were,  to  suit  the  taste  of  his  customers,  soaked  in  a 
solution  of  opium. 

This  produced  a  drowsy,  dreamy  condition  of  mind  in 
those  habituated  to  it ;  while  to  those  not  used  to  the 
drug,  in  any  shape,  it  induced  sleep. 

On  Monday  it  had  this  effect. 

He  wanted  to  keep  wide  awake,  but  he  fell  fast  asleep 
in  his  chair,  his  head  resting  against  the  wall. 

Scarcely  had  he  been  asleep  five  minutes,  than  Frank 
Davis  walked  up  to  the  Pagoda  house. 

His  eyes  instantly  fell  upon  the  well-known  features  of 
Monday. 

He  was  alarmed  at  his  presence  there,  for  it  boded  no 
good  for  the  success  of  his  plans. 

The  cause  of  his  visit  to  the  Pagoda  house,  was  his 
anxiety  to  know  if  Ah  Sing  could  get  Jack  to  venture  as 
far  as  Chinatown. 


2  48  JA  CK  HARK  A  WA  Y  'S  AD  VENTURES 

Making  sure  that  Monday  was  really  asleep,  and  not 
shamming,  he  hastily  sought  Ah  Sing. 

The  strictly  honourable  one  was  in  a  private  room 
where  the  tea  was  made. 

"  Ha  !  "  he  exclaimed,  "  you  comee  too  soonee." 

"  How  did  you  get  on  ? "  asked  Frank. 

"First  chop,"  replied  Ah  Sing.  "To-morrow  Hark- 
awayee  is  to  visit  me,  and  also  a  friend  callee  old  Ah 
Fool  Mole." 

"I  know  him,  but  I  fear  there  is  something  wrong." 

"No,  me  doee  the  business  allee  rightee,  samee  as 
Englishman,"  Ah  Sing  protested. 

"Are  you  aware  that  you  have  a  spy  here?" 

"Hongs  and  Gongs!  "  cried  Ah  Sing,  who  was  not 
much  given  to  the  use  of  expletives. 

"You  may  well  say  that,  and  add  Chingaring-a-Chop- 
sticks,  or  any  other  forcible  expression  in  your  outland- 
ish lingo,"  replied  Frank  Davis. 

' '  Where  is  he,  this  spy ee  ?  " 

"Asleep  under  the  verandah.  He  is  a  black  fellow, 
or  coloured  person  as  they  term  it  ;  a  Lascar  kind  of  chap. " 

"  Why,  me  talkee  to  him  and  he  treatee  to  tea.  Veree 
nice-spoken  man,"  said  Ah  Sing. 

"You're  a  fool.      He'd  cut  your  throat  and  mine  too." 

"Who  is  he?" 

"  Harkaway's  nigger,  that's  who  he  is,  and  I  tell  you 
that  he  is  down  here  for  no  good.  He  has  been  sent,  or 
come  on  his  own  hook,  to  spy  out  the  land." 

"Hum,"  muttered  Ah  Sing.  "What  we  doee  now? 
This  is  rather  awkward  for  plotee. " 

"  He  must  not  be  allowed  to  go  away  until  you  have 
settled  Harkaway,  that  is  flat." 

"  Put  him  in  some  holee." 

"Haven't  you  got  a  cellar  you  can  shove  him  into?  " 

"Yes.  Veree  good  dry  cellar,  full  of  emptee  tea- 
chestees,"  answered  Ah  Sing. 

' '  The  very  thing,  nothing  could  be  better.  All  you  have 
to  do,  is  to  bind  his  hands  and  feet  while  he  is  asleep. 
It  is  dark  now,  and  the  customers  have  all  gone  away. " 

"Yes,"  said  Ah  Sing.  "Tea  drinkee  people  gone, 
only  pipe  smokers  in  opium  roomee. " 

"  Do  it  at  once  then,  or  he  may  wake  up,  and  he  is  a 
devil  to  fight,  I  can  tell  you,"  exclaimed  Frank  Davis. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  249 

"  Me  no  fightee  man,  but  stick  knifee,  first-chop." 

"  Get  a  bit  of  rope  and  out  along." 

"  You  helpee  me  to  carry  in  cellar  presentlee  ?  "  asked 
A.h  Sing.  ' '  Too  heavee  nigger  for  me  to  liftee. " 

Frank  nodded  assent. 

Ah  Sing  found  two  pieces  of  rope,  and  glided  up  to 
Monday  like  a  snake. 

The  black  still  slept. 

A  thin  rain  was  falling,  making  the  air  cool  and  fra« 
grant. 

The  heavy  clouds  drifting  over  the  land,  indicated  that 
there  had  been  a  storm  out  at  sea. 

Very  gently,  Ah  Sing  encircled  Monday's  wrists  with 
the  rope,  which  he  tied  in  a  triple  knot 

"Pullee  tightee,"  he  muttered.  "Don't  wantee  hinj 
to  be  an  escaper." 

Kneeling  down,  he  put  the  other  bit  of  rope  around  hiri 
ankles. 

He  had  just  time  to  fasten  the  knot  when  Monday 
awoke. 

As  he  opened  his  eyes,  he  also  opened  his  mouth, 
and  indulged  in  a  yawn,  after  which  he  tried  to  stretch 
his  limbs. 

Great  was  his  surprise,  not  unmixed  with  consternation, 
when  he  found  he  could  not  move  hand  or  foot. 

He  discovered,  however,  that  he  could  move  both  feet 
at  once. 

This  he  did,  catching  the  retreating  Ah  Sing  a  heavy 
and  uncomfortable  blow  under  the  chin. 

It  sent  him  heels  over  head  down  the  half-dozen  wooden 
steps  which  led  up  to  the  verandah. 

He  fell  on  his  back  in  the  muddy  road,  and  began  to 
moan  and  groan. 

Frank  Davis  came  out  on  hearing  the  noise. 

A  dozen  large  Chinese  lanterns  were  hanging  to  the 
verandah,  and  had  been  lighted  some  time. 

This  light  enabled  him  to  see  that  Monday  could  not 
move,  which  was  a  great  relief  to  him. 

It  was  not  his  desire  to  have  a  conflict  with  the  black 

Everyone  who  had  ever  fought  with  Monday  had  a 
Vvholesome  dread  of  him,  and  gave  the  black  a  wide  berth. 

"Ha!  ha  !  "  he  laughed  in  triumph,  "you  are  fairly 
cornered,  you  lump  of  black  ivory." 


250  /A  CK  HARK  A  WAY'S  AD  VENTURES 

Monday's  unusually  joyous  countenance  fell. 

"Frank  Davis,  by  golly  1 "  he  cried,  "caught  in  ura 
trap  for  certain,  all  through  going  to  sleep.  Fool !  that's 
me — fool !  and  nothing  else.  Tie  um  hands  and  feet, 
and  make  helpless.  I'm  no  more  use  than  a  baby." 

"How  do  you  like  doing  the  private  detective  busi- 
ness, my  highly  intelligent  coloured  friend  ?  " 

"Don't  want  to  hold  any  talk  with  you." 

"Because  you  don't  know  what  to  say,"  replied  Frank 
Davis.  "You  are  discounted,  I  may  say  double  dis- 
counted. It  was  lucky  I  came  here  and  saw  you,  for 
Ah  Sing  did  not  know  you.  Now  I  shall  be  able  to  have 
some  fun  with  you,  and  be  revenged  on  Harkaway 
too." 

Monday's  eyes  flashed. 

"  What  you  going  to  do  to  him?  "  he  demanded. 

"Wouldn't  you  like  to  know  ?  "  sneered  Davis.  " Fish 
and  find  out,  that's  good  enough  for  you." 

There  was  a  loud  wail  from  Ah  Sing. 

"What's  the  matter  with  you,  you  terra-cotta image ?" 
asked  Frank  Davis  ;  "you  aren't  dying." 

"Yes,  me  am  a  dyer,"  answered  Ah  Sing.  "That  nigger 
kickee  me  under  the  chinee  and  makee  my  teethe  all 
rattlers." 

"Brace  up  and  rub  your  jaw." 

"Talkee  in  painee." 

"Don't  talk  then  ;  you  can  use  your  arms,  I  suppose? 
Come  and  put  this  chap  in  the  cellar  you  spoke  of." 

"Allee  rightee,  rie  makee  an  effortee,"  replied  Ah  Sing. 

"Look  sharp,  you  arc  such  a  time.  I  want  to  get 
home  to  my  supper,"  said  Frank. 

"Nigger  givee  me  all  the  supperee  I  wantee." 

He  got  up  after  making  this  doleful  remark,  and  un- 
locked a  door  under  the  verandah. 

This  led  into  the  cellar,  which  was  spacious  and  dry. 
Scores  of  tea  chests  were  scattered  around,  and  in  one 
corner  was  a  large  tin  receptacle  full  of  opium. 

Ah  Sing  had  stolen  this,  in  small  packages,  from  the 
works  which  he  superintended  for  Josiah  Davis. 

Davis  and  the  Chinaman  now  took  hold  of  Monday 
and  carried  him  into  the  cellar. 

They  deposited  him  on  the  floor,  giving  him  a  tea-chest 
for  a  pillow. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE. 


251 


"Suppose  he  shouts  and  makes  a  noise,  so  as  to  attract 
attention?"  remarked  Frank.  "That  won't  do,  you 
know.  We  must  guard  against  that." 

"  Me  knockee  him  on  the  headee,"  Ah  Sing  replied. 

"You  may  be  asleep,  or  engaged  about  your  business 
in  the  day-time.  Better  gag  him. " 

"  Don't  knowee  how  to  doee  thatee,  boss." 

"I'll  show  you." 

Frank  went  outside,  took  down  a  lantern,  and  groped 
about  till  he  found  two  pieces  of  wood,  which  he  cut  to 
a  certain  length  and  bound  together  with  a  piece  of  string. 

Then,  on  coming  back,  he  said — 

"Now,  my  man,  open  your  mouth.  I've  got  a  pill 
for  you. " 

' '  Let  um  go,  you  have  no  right  to  keep  me  here ! " 
exclaimed  Monday.  "  Um  go  to  a  magistrate  when 
you  let  um  loose." 

Davis  bestowed  a  malignant  look  upon  him. 

"Perhaps  you  will  never  get  out.  Think  yourself 
lucky  that  I  don't  put  a  bullet  in  you,"  he  replied.  "  Open 
that  potato  trap  of  yours,  double  quick  1  Come,  hurry  up  1 " 

Monday  was  obliged  to  submit 

The  gag  was  put  in  his  mouth.  He  was  now  unable  to 
move  or  speak,  and  had  the  pleasant  prospect  before 
him  of  remaining  in  that  condition  for  probably  twenty 
hours. 

Ah  Sing  and  Davis  retired  j  the  door  was  locked  and 
Monday  was  alone. 

The  cellar  was  close  and  stuffy.  Sand  flies  and  mos- 
quitos  began  to  worry  him  ;  but  luckily  for  his  peace  of 
mind  and  body,  the  drowsy  feeling  produced  by  the 
opium-soaked  cigar  he  had  smoked,  again  overcame  him. 

He  went  off  into  a  sound  sleep. 


CHAPTER  XUI. 

A  DANGEROUS  POSITION — JACK  HARKAWAY  AND   MOLE  ARE  DT  THE 
POWER   OF  THE  CHINAMAN. 

IT  was  about  ten  o'clock  on  the  morning  following  the 
day  that  Monday  fell  into  the  trap. 
At  the  entrance  to  the  village  of  Chinatown  Jack  and 


252  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

Mole  dismounted,  from  mules  they  had  ridden  from 
Singapore. 

Telling  the  guide  to  let  the  mules  graze,  as  they  should 
not  want  them  again  for  several  hours,  they  walked  on. 

They  were  on  the  look-out  for  the  strictly  reliable  Ah 
Sing's  pagoda  house. 

In  a  short  time  it  greeted  their  sight. 

Ah  Sing  had  been  early  to  the  opium  factory,  seen  that 
everything  was  going  on  properly,  and  returned  early. 

He  was  on  the  look-out  for  his  expected  visitors. 

A  smile  of  cunning,  mingled  with  avarice,  lighted  up 
his  countenance. 

Part  of  the  night  he  had  been  awake  arranging  his  plans. 

He  had  determined  to  decoy  Jack  and  the  professor 
into  the  country  where  he  could  stupefy  them  with  opium. 
Then  he  would,  as  ordered  by  Josiah  and  Frank  Davis, 
cut  off  both  of  Harka  way's  ears. 

Going  back  to  the  pagoda  house,  he  intended  to  liberate 
Monday,  whose  death  he  did  not  wish  to  have  on  his 
mind. 

It  would  not  be  safe  for  him  to  remain  in  Chinatown. 

He  meant  to  escape  into  the  interior  of  the  island, 
where  he  had  friends,  and  hide  himself. 

In  ten  days  or  less,  the  steamer  would  sail  with  Jack 
and  his  friends  for  England. 

All  danger  of  reprisals  would  be  over. 

"Good-day,  my  friend,"  exclaimed  Jack.  "Is  our 
breakfast  ready  ?  " 

"It  is  awaiting  your  honourable  and  esteemed  appe- 
tite," replied  Ah  Sing. 

"  What  have  you  got  ?  " 

"Tea  of  the  best,  pigeons,  chickens,  steak  of  cowbeef, 
chopee  from  the  woolee  sheepee,  bread,  cakes,  and  the 
usual  condimentees,"  was  the  rejoinder. 

"That  will  do.  I  am  glad  you  have  left  puppy  dogs, 
rats,  bird's-nest  soup,  and  other  Chinese  delicacies  out  of 
your  bill  of  fare." 

"  I  prepare  a  breakfastee  fit  for  the  distinguished  Eng- 
lishmanee.  Please  follow." 

With  a  bow,  and  a  childlike,  innocent  smile.  Ah  Sing 
led  the  way  to  the  top  of  the  house. 

This  was  flat,  surrounded  by  a  railing  three  feet  high, 
up  which  climbed  creepers  of  various  hues. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  253 

There  was  the  beautiful  blue  of  the  Westaria,  mingled 
with  the  bright  red  of  the  canariensis. 

About  eight  feet  above  the  roof,  was  suspended  an 
awning  to  keep  off  the  rays  of  the  sun. 

Chairs  and  tables  were  scattered  about,  and  two  or 
three  straw  mattresses  were  put  down  for  those  who 
wanted  to  lounge. 

A  splendid  view  of  the  adjacent  poppy-fields  was  to  be 
obtained. 

They  were  one  mass  of  glorious  colour. 

Ah  Sing  disappeared  to  bring  up  the  repast  he  had  pre- 
pared for  them. 

"  This  is  lovely,"  remarked  Jack. 

' '  Yes, "  replied  Mole,  ' '  the  sight  will  long  linger  in  the 
memory. " 

To  the  left  was  a  wood  of  palm-trees,  through  an  open- 
ing in  which  could  be  seen  a  small  lake  embosomed  in 
the  foliage. 

In  the  centre  of  the  lake  was  an  island  of  small  propor- 
tions, also  covered  with  trees. 

Principal  among  these  was  the  Magnolia,  now  full  of 
flowers. 

"What  is  that  over  there?"  asked  Jack,  when  the 
Chinaman  returned,  and  placed  the  tray  on  the  table. 

"The  Lake  of  Pleasure,  and  the  Island  of  Delight," 
replied  Ah  Sing. 

"  Are  there  fish  in  it?" 

"Veree  many  fishee." 

"What  kind?" 

"Gold  and  silver.  The  highly  distinguished  visitors 
to  me  often  go  fishee. " 

"By  Jove  !  that's  a  good  idea.  We  will  make  a  day 
of  it,"  said  Jack.  "  Have  you  tackle  ?  " 

"  Rodee,  linee,  plentee,  and  little  wormees  for  baitees,* 
Ah  Sing  answered. 

"  Good.  I  don  t  care  much  about  the  opium  factory  ; 
that  will  be  dry  work." 

"True.  Who  cares  how  the  accursed  stuff  is  made?" 
observed  Mole. 

"I  prefer  fishing,"  continued  Jack.  "We  will  order 
dinner  and  come  back  here.  Are  you  listening,  Sing?" 

The  representative  of  the  Flowery  Land  nodded. 

"Smokee  pipe  on  the  Island  of  Delight  ? "  he  said. 


«54  JA  CK  HA  RKA  WAY'S  AD  VENTURES 

"That  will  do.     Bring  the  pipes  with  you." 

"And  I  say,"  exclaimed  Mole. 

"  What  is  the  desire  of  the  most  learned?  " 

"Bring  something  to  drink  with  you.  What  have  you 
got  ?  " 

"Some  champagne  drinkee,  brandy  drinkee,"  an- 
swered Ah  Sing. 

Mr.  Mole's  eyes  glistened. 

"A  very  capital  mixture,"  exclaimed  he,  smacking  hh> 
lips.  "  We  will  have  some  of  both,  my  good  fellow." 

They  sat  down  to  breakfast,  which  they  enjoyed  ex- 
ceedingly, their  appetites  being  sharpened  by  their  ride. 

"It's  funny,"  said  Jack,  "that  we  saw  nothing  oi 
Monday  before  we  started. " 

"He  often  goes  off  like  that.  I  believe  he  drinks!" 
Mole  rejoined. 

"  No,  he  does  not.     You  can't  accuse  him  of  that." 

"You  could  not  tell  it  by  his  nose;  it  is  the  wrong 
colour  to  show  it.  Ha,  ha !  " 

The  professor  laughed  at  his  own  joke. 

"Yours  is  like  a  flaming  beacon,  sir,"  remarked  Jack. 

"All  the  sun,  I  assure  you.  My  skin  is  tender.  I 
can't  stand  these  high  latitudes. " 

"Is  that  it?" 

"The  vicinity  of  the  equator  does  not  agree  with  my 
complexion,'*  replied  Mole. 

When  Ah  Sing  again  appeared,  they  had  finished  eat- 
ing. 

He  had  a  basket  containing  wine  in  one  hand,  and 
rods,  lines,  and  a  box  of  bait  in  the  other. 

"Alice  rightee  now,  excellencees?"  he  asked. 

"Right  as  rain,"  responded  Jack.  "  By  the  way,  did 
you  see  a  Malay  here  last  evening  ? " 

"No,  sir,"  answered  Ah  Sing,  carelessly.  "Blackee 
manee  no  comee  here.  All  regular  customers,  Chinee." 

Then  he  watched  a  butterfly  that  was  hovering  over 
the  creepers. 

Mr.  Mole  looked  in  the  basket 

He  was  satisfied  at  seeing  two  bottles  of  wine  and  two 
of  brandy,  together  with  pipes,  and  a  ball  of  opium. 

Descending  the  stairs,  they  went  out  into  the  quaintly- 
built  street,  Ah  Sing  leading  the  way  through  the  poppy- 
fields. 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  255 

Thousands  of  butterflies,  all  ablaze  with  colour  like  the 
flower,  were  flying  about. 

The  eye  grew  tired  of  so  much  colour  at  last. 

It  was  a  relief  to  reach  the  green  woodland,  shrub* 
bamboo,  and  cacti,  growing  between  the  trees. 

There  were  half-a-dozen  small  boats  moored  to  a  raft 

Ah  Sing  gave  one  to  each  of  them,  taking  another  him- 
self. 

"  Fishee  from  boatee,  or  from  Island  ?  "  he  inquired. 

"Which  do  you  think  best,  Mister  Strictly  Reliable" 
Jack  asked. 

"Allee  samee,  excellencee." 

' '  I  should  like  the  island,  for  I  am  afraid  of  being 
swamped  in  this  little  craft,"  said  Mole. 

"You  can  swim,  and  a  dip  would  not  hurt  you." 

"There's  the  danger  of  water-snakes." 

"Yes,"  put  in  Ah  Sing.  "  Veree  nastee  snakes  in 
water. " 

At  this  moment,  a  long  thin  snake,  with  black  and 
white  hoops,  came  up  with  a  spiral  motion. 

"  Lookee  !  lookee  !  "  cried  Ah  Sing. 

"What  is  it?" 

"  Water-snakee  ;  him  come  up  to  have  little  ;e\eep  at 
us." 

Mr.  Mole  was  greatly  alarmed. 

He  turned  sharply  round. 

The  boat  inclined  to  one  side,  Mole  lost  hits  balance, 
and  stretching  out  his  arms  fell  with  a  dismal  scream  into 
the  lake. 

That  which  he  had  hoped  to  avoid  h?d  in  reality 
happened  to  him. 

It  was  deep  near  the  raft,  and  he  sank  like  t\  stone. 

Frightened  by  the  noise  and  splash  of  the  r-atastrophe, 
the  snake  shot  down  to  the  bottom. 

So  did  Professor  Mole. 

The  snake  was  as  much  frightened  as  he  was,  and  did 
not  make  any  attempt  to  molest  him. 

A  smile  stole  over  Ah  Sing's  face  as  he  fished  up  the 
professor's  straw  hat. 

"Divee  like  a  duck,"  he  remarked.  "V-sree  funnee. 
Heap  comical,  you  betee." 

In  a  short  time  Mole  regained  the  surface,  gasping  for 
breath,  and  blowing  like  a  whale  or  a  grampus. 


356  /ACA  hARKA  IVA  y'S  AD  VENTURES 

The  force  of  imagination  made  him  think  that  a  snake 
was  twined  round  his  leg. 

His  face  was  convulsed  with  terror,  and  his  eyes  were 
nearly  starting  out  of  his  head. 

"  Look  out,  sir,"  laughed  Jack.  "  Beware  of  the  steam 
roller !  " 

"  Hang  rollers ;  help  me  out.  A  serpent  is  biting  me — 
in  fact,  a  dozen  are  at  me. " 

"So  many  as  that?" 

"Yes,  yes.  I  descended  into  a  nest  of  them.  Help 
me  out" 

He  was  clinging  to  the  edge  of  the  raft 

But  he  had  no  power  to  raise  himself. 

From  his  appearance,  Jack  thought  that  he  was  going  to 
have  an  attack  of  epileptic  vertigo. 

He  went  to  his  assistance  at  once. 

With  difficulty  the  professor,  badly  scared,  and  dripping 
with  water,  was  hauled  on  to  the  raft. 

His  first  care  was  to  look  for  water-snakes  about  his 
legs. 

He  was  deeply  gratified  to  find  that  there  were  none 
there. 

"Narrow  escape,"  he  exclaimed.  "I  have  shaken 
them  off,  I  suppose.  Ugh  !  ugly  things,  nasty,  horrid !  " 

He  looked  at  Ah  Sing. 

' '  My  Chinese  friend, "  he  added,  ' '  I  have  drunk  enough 
lake  water  to  float  a  canoe.  Give  me  some  brandy." 

"Drawee  corkee,"  replied  Ah  Sing. 

Suiting  the  action  to  the  word,  he  poured  out  some  of 
the  spirit  into  a  glass. 

The  professor  snatched  it  from  his  hand,  and  drank 
greedily. 

"  Ah  !  "  he  said,  drawing  a  deep  breath  of  satisfaction. 
"How  shall  I  sing  the  praises  of  this  noble  spirit?  All 
honour  to  the  man  who  invented  it. " 

"You  will  soon  dry  sir,  and  if  you  don't  take  a  chill 
you  will  be  none  the  worse  for  your  ducking,"  Jack  re- 
marked. 

They  got  into  the  boats  again,  Mole  steaming  like  a 
geyser  under  the  hot  sun. 

It  was  a  short  scull  to  the  island,  and,  having  found  a 
suitable  spot,  they  landed,  made  their  boats  fast  to  the 
limb  of  a  tree  and  began  fishing. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE. 


257 


With  the  dislike  of  an  Oriental  to  do  anything  of  an 
active  nature  that  is  not  absolutely  necessary,  Ah  Sing 
sat  down,  hoisted  an  umbrella  made  of  strips  of  bamboo 
and  paper,  and  looked  on. 

The  fish  bit  freely,  and  the  sport  was  good,  though  the 
fish  were  of  a  small  size,  the  largest  scaling  half-a-pound 
only. 

Making  frequent  applications  to  the  bottle,  Mr.  Mole,  in 
the  course  of  a  couple  of  hours  grew  sleepy. 

' '  Let  us  give  over  for  a  time  and  try  a  pipe,  Harkaway  ?  " 
he  exclaimed. 

"I'm  agreeable,"  replied  Jack.  "These  fish  are  too 
tame  to  afford  me  any  excitement." 

"What  a  fellow  you  are  for  that  kind  of  thing,  so  full 
of  dash  and  go  !  " 

"I  like  something  to  stir  the  blood,  and  make  the  heafrt 
beat,  sir." 

"I  don't;  that's  the  difference  between  us,  you  know, 
although  you  must  admit  I  am  bravery  itself." 

"When  there  is  no  danger,"  replied  Jack. 

"Come,  come,  don't  say  that ;  I  can't  stand  your  nasty 
snacks,"  protested  the  professor  ;  "  it  is  base  ingratitude." 

"  I  take  it  back,  sir — you  are  brave.  Didn't  you  dive 
after  a  water-snake  just  now  ? " 

"That  will  do;  I  accept  your  apology.  Light  up  the 
pipes,  my  pig- tailed  friend.  I  am  anxious  to  travel  to  the 
realms  of  bliss  in  an  opium  dream,  do  you  hear  ! " 

"  Alice  rightee,  boss;  me  fixee  you  first-chop  pipee," 
Ah  Sing  replied. 

Jack  allayed  his  thirst  with  some  of  the  sparkling 
vintage  of  champagne,  which  proved  to  be  of  rather  an 
inferior  quality. 

Ah  Sing  was  no  judge  of  wine,  his  potations  being  con- 
fined to  tea  and  a  white  Chinese  spirit  made  from  rice. 

The  brandy  bottle  was  Mole's  friend  again,  and  by  this 
time  he  was  getting  what  the  sailors  call  groggy  or  half- 
seas  over. 

He  and  Jack  selected  shady  spots  under  the  trees  to  lie 
down. 

Filling  the  pipes  with  opium,  Ah  Sing  lighted  them,  and 
handed  one  to  each. 

Soon  Jack  became  conscious  of  a  pleasant  feeling 
creeping  over  him. 


258  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  ADVENTURES 

He  was  lifted  away,  as  it  were,  to  a  fairer  land,  where 
the  trees  were  of  gold,  bearing  precious  stones  of  varied 
hues. 

Beautiful  women,  clad  in  rich  garments,  handed  him 
dainty  dishes  and  drinks,  such  as  he  had  never  seen 
before. 

He  was  entirely  unconscious  of  his  surroundings. 

The  sweetest  music  floated  in  the  air,  enchanted  his 
soul,  and  made  every  fibre  of  his  being  thrill  with 
pleasurable  emotion. 

Ah  Sing  glided  up  to  him  like  a  snake. 

The  loud  snoring  of  Mole  indicated  that  he,  too,  slept 
soundly. 

Both  were  under  the  influence  of  the  insidious  narcotic. 

With  a  piece  of  silken  cord,  Ah  Sing  bound  Jack's  wrists 
together. 

He  was  rendered  helpless  if  he  should  vake  up. 

The  Chinaman  then  produced  a  knife,  which  was  as 
sharp  as  a  new  razor. 

His  eyes  scintillated,  and  he  Ghoved  his  gleaming 
teeth. 

"  Now  cuttee  ears  off  for  Mr.  Davis,  then  runnee  away 
and  hidee  for  a  time,"  muttcrcc!  Ah  Sing. 

Jack  was  insensible  to  his  danger. 

He  had  fallen  into  the  trap  laid  for  him. 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 

MONDAY   BECOMES   DESPERATE. 

IT  can  readily  be  imagined  how  furious  Monday  was 
when  he  found  himself  a  close  prisoner  in  Ah  Sing's  cellar. 

He  was  totally  unable  to  move  hand  or  foot,  or  to  utter 
a  cry. 

How  frantically  he  blamed  himself  for  being  so  un- 
suspecting. 

He  felt  convinced  that  the  cigar  given  him  to  smoke 
had  been  drugged  ;  for  he  had  the  peculiar  faculty  of  being 
able  to  keep  awake  easily  for  forty-eight  hours  at  a 
stretch. 

Often  had  he  done  so  in  Limbi,  and  since  he  left 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  259 

That  Chinamen  were  tricky,  he  knew,  but  he  always 
fancied  he  was  more  cunning  than  they  were. 

For  once  he  had  been  outwitted. 

His  capture,  he  was  sure,  was  part  of  a  deep  plot  on 
the  part  of  Frank  Davis,  of  which  Jack  was  to  be  the 
victim. 

And  he  (Monday)  was  unable  to  warn  him. 

For  his  own  fate  he  cared  little.  It  was  of  his  master 
he  thought,  and  for  whom  he  trembled. 

In  the  morning,  Jack  was  coming  to  Chinatown,  and 
unfortunately  the  crafty  Ah  Sing  had  discovered  that  he 
was  his  servant. 

As  the  night  wore  on  he  suffered  from  thirst,  but  those 
pangs  were  forgotten  in  his  acute  mental  distress. 

His  thoughts  were  bent  entirely  in  devising  some 
means  of  escape. 

In  vain  he  racked  his  tortured  and  fevered  brain. 

The  cords  defied  his  most  frantic  efforts  to  burst  them. 

He  rolled  over  and  over  in  his  intense  agony,  and  was 
bathed  in  a  profuse  prespiration. 

Suddenly  his  hand  touched  something  sharp,  which 
pricked  the  skin  of  his  knuckles. 

All  was  dark  as  pitch  in  the  cellar,  though,  through  a 
crack  in  the  top  of  the  door,  he  could  see  a  star  twinkling. 

He  rubbed  the  back  of  his  hand  against  the  substance 
that  had  pricked  him. 

Some  anxious  consideration  induced  him,  from  its 
jagged  shape,  to  believe  it  was  an  old  saw. 

Nor  was  he  mistaken. 

At  some  time  or  other,  the  saw  had  been  thrown  into 
the  cellar,  and  had  stuck  in  the  earth  with  the  teeth 
upward. 

Gradually  it  had  sunk,  or  been  forced  in  farther  and 
farther,  until  it  was  firmly  embedded. 

Here  was  a  slight  chance  for  the  faithful  fellow. 

He  could  possibly  keep  on  rubbing  the  cord  round  his 
wrists  against  the  teeth  of  the  saw  until  he  so  frayed  it, 
that  he  would  be  able  to  force  it  asunder. 

It  was  a  long  and  difficult  task. 

To  rub  hard  would  be  dangerous,  for  he  might  displace 
the  saw,  and  if  it  fell  on  its  side,  it  would  be  rendered 
useless,. 

With  the  utmost  gentleness  he  set  to  work 


260  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y  'S  AD  VENTURES 

For  hours  he  kept  on,  and  could  feel  that  he  was  making 
but  slow  progress. 

Nevertheless  he  was  progressing,  and  his  heart  beat 
high  with  hope. 

He  could  not  help  scratching  his  skin  now  and  again, 
which  made  the  blood  come. 

The  pain  of  the  smart  he  disregarded,  because  the  blood 
fell  on  the  cord  and  softened  it. 

Morning  came,  yet  the  sunlight  but  fitfully  came  in  here 
and  there  at  the  door. 

His  keen  eyes,  however,  saw  that  the  cord  was  parting 
strand  by  strand. 

Noises  began  to  be  heard  in  the  street 

Carts  went  by,  and  people  going  to  work  indulged  in 
conversation  and  laughter. 

Monday  grew  desperate. 

He  wanted  to  be  out  and  about  before  Jack  arrived,  so 
that  he  might  waylay  him. 

It  was  useless,  however,  to  be  precipitate. 

The  weary  hours  dragged  their  clow  length  along. 

All  at  once  he  gave  a  more  energetic  jerk  than  usual. 

The  saw  was  dislodged  and  fell  on  its  side. 

Tears  foil  down  Monday's  cheeks,  and  he  could  have 
bobbed  aloud  at  his  bad  luck,  if  it  had  not  been  for  the 

For  some  time  he  lay  as  if  stunned. 

It  seemed  as  if  all  his  patient  toil  was  to  go  for  nothing. 

A  feeling  of  despair  came  over  him,  and  he  gave  him- 
self up  for  lost,  as  well  as  his  master. 

He  was  roused  from  his  lethargy  by  hearing  the  sound 
of  Jack's  voice  in  the  street  outside. 

Jack  was  talking  to  Mr.  Mole  after  breakfast,  as  they 
went  with  Ah  Sing  to  fish  in  the  lake. 

This  fairly  maddened  Monday. 

He  tried  to  throw  up  his  arms  with  a  prodigious  effort. 

To  his  unspeakable  joy  he  succeeded  in  doing  so. 

The  cord,  already  worn  down  to  a  thin  point,  gave  way 
and  fell  from  his  lacerated  wrists. 

So  far  Monday  was  free. 

He  acknowledged  that  this  was  a  great  advance,  but 
there  was  more  to  be  done. 

With  a  sigh  of  relief  he  removed  the  gag  from  his  mouth, 
and  was  able  to  breathe  freely  again. 


AFL OAT  AND  ASHORE.  26 1 

His  jaws  were  so  stiff  that  it  was  with  pain  and  diffi- 
culty he  shut  his  mouth. 

"  Nice  thing,"  he  muttered.  "  Sha'nt  be  able  to  do 
much  in  um  eating  line  for  some  time.  Suck  um  egg,  I 
reckon." 

He  next  untied  the  rope  that  fastened  his  legs. 

When  this  was  done,  he  rose  to  his  feet  and  stretched 
himself. 

Now  he  was  confronted  with  the  difficulty  of  getting 
out  of  the  cellar,  which  was  locked  on  the  outside. 

It  was  stoutly  made  of  teak  wood,  such  as  ships  are 
built  of,  and  the  hinges  were  firm  and  solid. 

To  cry  out  would  undoubtedly  have  brought  assistance 
in  time. 

Yet  it  might,  he  thought,  bring  Ah  Sinr;,  with  some  of 
his  friends  and  neighbours,  to  wreak  his  vengeance  upon 
him. 

What  would  be  easier  than  for  Ah  Sing  to  declare  that 
he  was  a  burglarious  thief? 

The  indignant  crowd  wou23  foil  upon  and  half  kill  him. 

He  knew  very  well  how  c?v.cl  the  Chinese  were  to  all 
criminals,  whether  of  their  ow>>  rncc  or  another. 

They  thought  nothing  of  ta&ng  ihc  law  into  their  own 
hands,  and  administering  condign  ^unibhment  to  an 
offender. 

Taking  up  the  old  saw,  he  advanced  to  the  door  and 
tried  to  prise  it  open. 

For  a  long  time  he  could  make  no  impression  on  the 
lock. 

At  length  he  got  the  saw  well  under  it,  gave  a  jerk,  and 
it  fell  on  the  floor. 

A  gentle  gust  of  wind  blew  the  door  open. 

Monday,  holding  himself  proudly  erect,  walked  out. 

Stepping  up  to  the  entrance  of  the  Pagoda  house,  he 
saw  a  Chinaman  sweeping  the  dust  off  the  steps. 

Monday  had  his  knife  concealed  in  his  clothes  ;  that  had 
not  been  taken  from  him. 

He  intended,  if  he  got  the  chance,  to  be  revenged  on 
Ah  Sing  for  the  scurvy  trick  he  had  played  him. 

It  would  be  dangerous,  however,  to  attack  him  in  the 
midst  of  his  people. 

They  would  do  anything  for  Ah  Sing. 

Re  was  quite  a  small  autocrat  in  his  way,  for  he  had  the 


262  JA  CK  HARK  A  WAY'S  AD  VENTURES 

power  at  the  opium-works  of  engaging  or  dismissing  any 

workman. 

Monday  had  to  watch  his  opportunity. 

"  What  your  name  ?  "  asked  Monday. 

"Loo  Choo,"  was  the  reply  of  the  highly  industrious 
order  of  goodee  workers. 

"  Do  um  know  a  gentleman  called  Ah  Sing? " 

"The  strictly  honourable  and  highly  respectable  is  my 
master." 

"Where  is  um  respectable?  "  continued  Monday. 

"  Him  gone  fishee  in  the  lake,"  answered  Loo  Choo. 

"  Anybody  go  with  him  ?  " 

"Two  white  gentlemans  from  Singapore.  They  go 
fishee  also,  with  the  strictly  honourable  Ah  Sing. " 

Monday's  heart  gave  a  big  throb. 

He  was  on  the  track  at  last. 

His  primary  duty  was  to  find  his  master,  and  save  him 
from  the  machinations  of  the  enemy. 

But,  in  aiding  Harkaway,  he  might  be  able  to  settle 
accounts  with  Ah  Sing  also. 

"  I  have  very  important  business  with  the  strictly  right 
honourable,  his  excellency  Ah  Sing,"  continued  Monday. 

"  Is  it  of  the  most  pressing  ? "  asked  Loo  Choo. 

"  Won't  admit  of  a  moment's  delay." 

"Then  you'd  better  walkee  through  poppy-fields  to  the 
lake.  Lookee  !  it  is  over  there." 

He  held  up  his  hand,  pointing  to  the  lake,  which  could 
be  seen  among  the  trees  like  a  sheet  of  crystal. 

"Itiscallee  the  Lake  of  Pleasure,  "continued  Loo  Choo. 
"  In  the  middlee  is  the  Islan  d  of  Delight  Flaps  findee  Ah 
Sing  there." 

Monday  nodded  his  head. 

He  did  not  stop  to  hear  any  more. 

At  his  best  pace,  he  struck  through  the  poppy-fields, 
hoping  that  he  might  yet  be  in  time  to  save  his  master 
from  the  unknown  danger  which  threatened  him. 

When  he  reached  the  lake,  he  saw  Ah  Sing  on  the  island, 
but  discovered  no  trr.ce  of  Harkaway  or  Mole. 

This  was  because  they  were  lying  down,  and  were 
hidden  by  the  grass  and  flowers  vhich  grew  around  them. 

Ah  Sing's  back  was  turned  towards  the  shore. 

Jumping  into  a  boat,  Monday  seized  a  scull,  and  stand 
ing  in  the  stern  paddled  it  Indian  fashion. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  263 

He  was  careful  to  make  no  noise. 

When  within  a  few  yards  of  the  island,  he  saw  Ah  Sing 
draw  a  knife  and  bend  over  Jack,  who  was  now  visible. 

Straining  every  nerve,  Monday  forced  the  boat  to  the 
land. 

He  sprang  like  a  tiger  on  Ah  Sing. 

It  was  the  crisis  of  Jack's  fate. 

Monday  was  just  in  time  to  seize  Ah  Sing  by  the  pig- 
tail, and  jerk  him  on  to  his  back. 

The  knife  fell  from  his  hand.  It  was  unstained  by 
blood. 

Jack  was  saved  from  mutilation. 

A  moment  later,  and  he  would  have  lost  his  ears. 

Monday  held  on  to  ihe  Chinaman's  pig-tail  with  the 
power  of  a  vise. 

He  dragged  him  this  way  and  pulled  him  that ;  he  lifted 
him  up  and  let  him  drop. 

"  Ho,  ho  !  "  he  laughed  ;  "  um  too  clever,  after  all,  foi 
um  Chinee.  Ho,  ho  !  Now  we  settle  um.  Mast'  Jack, 
you  wake  up  and  see  the  fun.  Mist'  Mole,  get  up,  sar. ' 

There  was  no  movement  on  the  part  of  cither  of  them. 

Monday  saw  the  opium  pipes. 

' '  Ah, "  he  added,  ' '  give  um  opium  joint.  Artful  dodge. 
Well,  no  matter.  Not  poison.  Wake  up  soon." 

He  danced  up  and  down  in  the  exuberance  of  his  glee. 
'Lettee  go ;  me  do  no  harmee,"  said  Ah  Sing. 
'Confess.      What  were  you  going  to  do  with  that 
knfe— kill?" 
'Nokillee." 
' What  then?" 

'  Mister  Davis  order  me  to  cut  off  both  ears  of  the 
mandarin,  Harkaway." 

" Gorramighty  !  "  exclaimed  Monday,  "that  am  um 
large  order.  Ho,  ho  !  Me  show  you." 

Picking  up  Ah  Sing's  knife,  he  made  a  sudden  slash  at 
his  pig-tail. 

It  was  severed  at  a  blow. 

He  held  it  up  in  triumph. 

Ah  Sing  sank  on  his  knees  with  a  look  of  abject  misery 
and  despair  on  his  face. 

According  to  Chinese  ideas,  he  was  disgraced  forever. 

It  was  the  honoured  growth  of  many,  many  years,  anc 
at  his  age  he  could  never  hope  to  recover  its  loss. 


264  J*  CK  HARKA  WA  VS  AD  V&NTUR&3 

CHAPTER    XLIV. 

BESIEGED     OJ»    THE     ISLAND. 

Ax  first,  the  abject  misery  of  Ah  Sing  was  pitiabia  to 
witness. 

He  would  much  rather  have  lost  his  ears  than  his 
beloved  pig-tail. 

To  lose  this  was  to  lose  caste  among  his  compatriots. 

The  Chinaman's  pig-tail  is  his  pride  and  delight. 

Without  it  he  is  nothing. 

He  feels,  wnen  it  is  gone,  as  a  woman  would  if  her 
hair  was  cropped  short  to  her  head. 

Grovelling  on  the  ground,  he  uttered  dismal  moans 
and  groans. 

Then  his  mood  changed. 

He  gnashed  his  teeth  with  rage  and  foamed  at  the 
mouth. 

Monday  laughed  at  his  distress,  and  feeling  in  his 
clothes  to  satisfy  himself  that  he  had  no  concealed  weap- 
ons, turned  his  attention  to  his  young  master. 

He  shook  Jack  and  also  Mr.  Mole,  but  he  could  not 
succeed  in  rousing  them. 

Both  were  deeply  steeped  in  the  opium  trance. 

"Very  funny  thing  they  sleep  so  hard,"  he  said  to 
himself.  "If  Mist'  Mole  drink,  that  not  the  case  with 
Massa  Jack.  He  always  keep  um  head  level.  No  mis- 
take 'bout  that." 

He  cast  his  eyes  on  the  grass,  and  saw  the  basket  with 
the  bottles  in  it. 

"Good  !  "  he  exclaimed — "jus'  what  this  child  wants  ; 
him  dry  as  an  oven.  Have  um  fine  drink  now." 

He  opened  a  bottle  of  champagne  and  greedily  drank 
half  the  contents  out  of  the  bottle. 

"Save  um  life,"  he  went  on  ;  "  lovely  !  Jus'  like  vel- 
vet going  down  'um  throat." 

Suddenly  the  idea  occurred  to  him  that  the  wine  might 
be  poisoned. 

Yes,  that  would  account  for  the  prostrate  condition  of 
Jack  and  the  professor. 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  265 

He  would  be  similarly  attacked  before  long. 

His  dusky  countenance  lengthened,  and  he  began  to 
feel  imaginary  pains  in  the  region  of  his  stomach. 

All  this  time  he  had  forgotten  the  presence  of  Ah  Sing. 

A  splashing  noise  attracted  his  attention. 

Looking  around  he  saw  that  the  crafty  Chinese  had  got 
into  one  of  the  boats,  and  tied  the  others  to  it,  and  was 
sculling  towards  the  land  as  fast  as  he  could. 

Escape  from  the  island  was  effectually  cut  off,  except 
by  swimming. 

Monday  did  not  know  how  to  act  in  this  emergency, 
for  he  and  his  friends  were  virtually  prisoners. 

He  had  not  intended  to  let  Ah  Sing  escape,  because  he 
was  afraid  he  would  create  mischief. 

The  fellow,  however,  had  been  too  sharp  for  him,  and 
had,  as  the  saying  is,  stolen  a  march. 

"Never  mind,"  said  Monday.  "We  all  three  know 
how  to  swim,  and  when  Mast'  Jack  and  Mist'  Mole  open 
their  eyes,  we  very  soon  get  on  the  land,  and  so  to  urn 
home." 

He  looked  at  the  shore  as  he  spoke,  and  saw  Ah  Sing 
putting  dry  grass  under  the  boats,  which  he  had  piled 
together. 

To  this  he  set  a  light. 

In  ten  minutes  there  was  a  rare  conflagration,  the 
flames  and  smoke  ascending  to  a  great  height. 

They  could  be  seen  for  some  distance  through  the 
opening  among  the  palm  trees. 

"What  the  debble  him  up  to  now ?"  mused  Monday. 
"Poor  kind  of  spite  to  burn  um  boat." 

He  waved  his  hand  to  Ah  Sing. 

"  Hi  !  "  he  shouted,  "you  Chinee  nigger,  hi !  " 

His  voice  was  easily  audible. 

"I  givee  you  hi!  hi!  presently,"  was  the  reply  in  a 
vengeful  tone. 

"None  of  your  cheek,  or  I'll  swim  over  and  tan  your 
hide  another  colour  !  " 

" Tryee  !"  sneered  Ah  Sing.  "When  you  come  near 
enough,  me  breakee  headee  with  oar.  Crackee  skullee 
— so  !  " 

Ah  Sing  took  up  an  oar,  and  made  as  if  he  was  hitting 
an  imaginary  body  in  the  water. 

He  meant  that  he  would  not  allow  anybody  to  land. 


266  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

Nor  was  this  an  idle  threat. 

The  Chinaman  was  thoroughly  master  of  the  situation. 

From  his  position  on  the  bank,  the  Chinaman  could 
have  readily  kept  the  three  of  them  off  for  any  length  of 
time. 

Or,  if  they  persisted  in  an  attempt  to  land,  he  could 
stun  and  drown  them. 

Monday  shook  his  head. 

"Him  artful  nig',''  he  muttered  "Don't  like  um 
game  at  all.  There's  more  behind,  I'm  thinking." 

In  this  conjecture  Monday  was  quite  right. 

There  was  a  good  deal  more  to  come  than  he  had  any 
idea  of. 

Ah  Sing  was  determined  to  have  his  revenge  for  the 
loss  of  his  pig-tail,  and,  at  the  same  time,  he  hoped  to  be 
able  to  carry  out  Frank  Davis's  instructions  regarding 
Harkaway. 

Many  members  of  his  family  resided  in  Chinatown, 
and  he  knew  that  they  would  rally  round  him. 

In  fact,  all  the  Chinese  in  the  place  were  at  his  beck 
and  call. 

To  cut  off  a  Chinaman's  pig-tail  is  quite  enough  to  raise 
a  riot  anywhere. 

If  a  disturbance  took  place,  and  Jack,  Monday,  and 
Mole  got  injured,  it  would  be  difficult  to  fix  the  blame  on 
anyone  in  particular. 

Ah  Sing  was  burning  the  boats  as  a  signal. 

His  fellow-countrymen  would  see  the  smoke  and 
flames. 

They  would  hurry  from  home  and  factory  to  his  side, 
and  help  him  to  besiege  the  island. 

It  would  soon  be  surrounded  by  two  or  three  score  of 
howling,  fanatical  Chinese. 

Most,  if  not  all  of  them,  would  have  guns  and  knives. 

To  fire  from  the  shore  would  be  practicable ;  to  swim 
over  with  a  knife,  quite  easy. 

It  threatened  to  be  a  terrible  night  for  Jack  and  his 
friends. 

Monday  was  alarmed,  he  scarcely  knew  why. 

"What  you  going  to  do  next  ?  "  he  asked. 

Ah  Sing  produced  a  pistol  from  a  pocket  inside  his 
blouse. 

Cocking  it  he  presented  it  at  Monday  and  fired. 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  267 

The  bullet  fell  into  the  water,  a  few  yards  from  the 
Malay. 

"Um  getting  hot,"  Monday  muttered.  "Pistol  not 
come  near  enough.  Gun  do  um  trick  though.  Getting 
what  Mast'  Jack  call  'rather  sultry.'  Perhaps  be  gory 
later  on.  How  to  get  out  of  this  fix,  I'm  sure  I  don't 
know." 

He  shook  his  fist  at  Ah  Sing. 

"  You  coward  beast  of  a  Chinee.  Your  father  is  being 
burnt  now,  and  your  grandfather,  and  all  um  ancestors. 
Their  bones  are  cursed  !  "  Monday  continued. 

"A  wisee  man  keepee  a  silent  tongue,"  replied  Ah 
Sing. 

' '  Where's  your  pig-tail,  ha  !  ha  !  " 

"  Laughee  now,  cryee  soon." 

"  That's  your  opinion,  perhaps — it  isn't  mine.  Let  me 
see  how  far  my  little  pop-gun  will  carry  um  ball." 

Monday  produced  his  pLccl,  and  fired  at  Ah  Sing. 

It  was  a  superior  weapon,  manufactured  by  an  English 
firm,  which  Jack  had  bought,  and  of  which  he  had  made 
him  a  present. 

Ah  Sing  smiled  in  his  jaundiced,  sickly  manner,  and 
stretched  out  hie  rir;-ht  hand  in  token  of  derision. 

Because  his  pistol  had  not  carried  across  the  lake,  he 
fancied  the  Malay's  would  not. 

In  this  belief  he  found  himself  highly  mistaken. 

The  bullet  found  him,  and,  strangely  enough,  it  struck 
the  hand  he  was  holding  up. 

In  a  second  the  third  finger  was  entirely  smashed,  and 
hanging  on  by  a  piece  of  skin  down  the  palm. 

The  pain  was  acute,  and  his  dismay  great. 

With  a  howl  like  a  wounded  wolf,  Ah  Sing  retreated 
behind  the  burning  boats. 

He  was,  so  far,  getting  the  worst  of  it. 

"How  um  like  that?"  asked  Monday.  "Pretty  good 
shot,  I  think.  Chinee  skunk  take  a  back  seat  now." 

Suddenly  he  was  startled  at  hearing  the  beating  of 
several  gongs. 

The  Chinese  always  beat  gongs  when  they  are  excited, 
pleased  or  surprised. 

It  was  evident  that  Ah  Sing,  by  his  big  beacon  fire,  had 
roused  the  attention  of  his  friends. 

The  alarm  was  spreading  right  and  left,  and  they  were 


268  JACK  HA  RKA  WAY'S  AD  VENTURES 

leaving  their  work  and  occupations  to  come  and  render 
him  such  assistance  as  lay  in  their  power. 

It  was  about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  ;  the  sun  was 
declining,  and  a  thin  haze  was  rising  over  the  lake. 

Monday  went  up  to  Jack,  and  taking  a  thorn  from  a 
mimosa  bush,  ran  it  into  his  flesh. 

"Wake  up,  Mast'  Jack  !  For  heaven's  sake,  stir  your- 
self !  "  he  said. 

Jack  yawned  and  stretched  himself,  opened  his  eyes, 
and  saw  his  faithful  servant. 

"You  here!"  he  remarked.  "By  Jove,  ho\v  did  you 
find  me  out  ?  Oh,  how  bad  I  feel !  Nice  dreams,  but 
such  an  awakening  !  My  head  feels  about  half  as  big 
again  as  it  ought  to  feel.  I  am  so  low-spirited,  too.  I 
shouldn't  mind  drowning  myself  in  the  lake." 

It  was  the  usual  depression  consequent  on  smoking 
opium. 

Mr.  Mole  sprang  up. 

"No  more  should  I,  Jack  ;  it  really  drives  me  to  drink. 
Where  is  the  eau-de-vie  ?  Give  me  some  of  the  three-star 
brandy.  Oh,  dear,  what  anacreontic  follies  I  have  seen 
in  mysleep  !  Glad  you  have  come,  Monday.  I  like  to  have 
a  nigger  about  me,  it  saves  such  a  lot  of  trouble,"  said  he. 

Monday,  who  had  roused  him  in  the  same  way  he  had 
Jack,  regarded  him  indignantly. 

"  Be  um  own  nigger,"  he  replied. 

"  Don't  get  vexed,  my  good  fellow." 

"Get  'em  brandy  best  way  um  can.  Want  my  serv- 
ices in  another  way  soon." 

"How's  that?  "  asked  Mr.  Mole.  "We  will  go  home 
now  and  all  will  be  serene." 

"  Ha  !  don't  know  all.     Got  to  reach  home  first" 

"What's  to  stop  us  ?  " 

"  The  Chinese  people  heap  big  plot  against  you,**  said 
Monday.  "I  only  come  here  jus'  in  time  to  save  Mast' 
Jack's  life." 

Jack  looked  at  the  black  with  astonishment. 

' '  Is  that  true  ?  "  he  asked. 

"Jus'  as  true  as  I'm  standing  up  alive  here.  Me  tell 
um  all.  Listen,  sare." 

Monday  related  all  that  had  happened  since  he  left  Sing- 
apore to  make  inquiries  about  Ah  Sing,  and  find  out  what 
was  likely  to  happen  in  Chinatown. 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE,  2 69 

Jack's  face  assumed  an  earnest  look.  He  had  come  out 
for  a  day's  fishing,  and  he  found  that  he  was  in  for  what 
seemed  like  a  night's  fighting. 

His  placid  contentment  passed  away. 

He  became  anxious  and  worried,  and  his  eagle  eyes 
sparkled  with  excitement ;  but  at  the  same  time  he  pre- 
served his  self-control. 

At  every  crisis,  Jack  was  invariably  calm  and  confident. 

Never  did  he  lose  his  head. 

"This  is  a  plot  of  Da  vis's,"  he  said,  "  and  I  have  been 
fool  enough  to  tumble  into  the  pit." 

"  We  are  in  a  nice  boat,"  observed  the  professor.  "It 
is  just  like  my  luck  when  I  come  out  with  you." 

"Who  would  have  thought  it,  sir?" 

"You  should  have  stayed  at  home — don't  be  so  venture- 
some. We  owe  our  lives  to  this  poor,  faithful,  uneducated 
savage,  who  has  outwitted  the  Chinaman." 

"  Me  better  man  than  him,"  replied  Monday,  grinning. 

The  sound  of  the  gongs  came  nearer,  and  yet  more 
near. 

"Do  you  hear  that,  sir?  "  cried  Jack.  "We  are  in  the 
power  of  the  Chinese  wretches.  There  are  no  white  men 
near  here.  They  will  besiege  us  on  this  island." 

"  Bah  !  the  boats  are  burnt." 

"But  they  have  firearms  which  will  carry  as  far  as  we 
are.  They  can  swim  like  fishes,  and  possess  knives." 

"  It  jolly  bad  bit  of  business,"  Monday  remarked. 

"Our  lives  do  not  seem  worth  an  hour's  purchase," 
rejoined  Harkaway. 

"  Let  us  plunge  into  the  water,  swim  across,  and  make 
a  dash  for  it.  I'm  game  if  you  are,"  Mole  suggested. 

"That  would  be  to  throw  ourselves  into  their  hands. 
Practically,  we  are  even  now  all  surrounded.  The  Chi- 
nese are  coming  from  every  side." 

"What  shall  we  do,  then  ?  " 

"  Hold  the  fort — that  is  to  say,  the  island.  We  have 
the  advantage  of  trees  here.  See  !  five  are  growing  to- 
gether ;  their  trunks  will  make  a  shield  for  us.  You  and 
I  have  pistols." 

"Shall  we  fire  at  them  ?" 

"Only  if  they  attempt  to  swim  over  and  land,"  Jack 
answered.  "Keep  all  your  cartridges." 

"Me  got  um  bag  full,"  said  Monday. 


270  JACK  HARK  A  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"Excellent !  We  shall  need  them  all  before  morning, 
it  strikes  me.  My  great  hope  is  in  Harvey.  He  i?  bad 
with  the  ague,  but  I  told  him  this  morning  before  we 
started  where  we  were  going,  and  ordered  dinner  for  seven 
o'clock.  If  we  don't  turn  up,  he  r.nd  Emily  will  guess 
there  is  something  wrong." 

"Good  old  Hr.rvey — bless  him  I"  exclaimed  Mr.  Mole. 
"Your  idea  of  the  tree  fort  is  a  splendic!  one.  I  will  retire 
at  once  and  seek  shelter ;  yes,  scch  ifc  hincily  protection, 
as  I  am  rather  nervous  after  that  confounded  opium,  and 
I  will,  for  safety,  take  the  basket  and  what  liquor  is  left 
with  me." 

Carrying  the  basket  with  him,  the  professor  went  into 
the  natural  fort  which  Jack's  quick  sight  had  discovered. 

It  was  admirably  adapted  for  its  purpose. 

Five  trees,  with  large  trunks,  grew  close  together  in  a 
semicircle. 

No  bullet  could  penetrate  through  this  admirable  de- 
fence. 

To  reconnoitre  the  movements  of  the  enemy  it  was  only 
necessary  to  cautiously  peep  round  either  corner. 

The  one  danger  wnc,  that  they  might  be  taken  in  the 
rear. 

In  that  case  they  would  have  to  fight  for  their  lives, 
and  they  were  all  three  equally  resolved  to  battle  to  tho 
death. 

Presently,  numbers  of  pig-tailed  Chinamen  began  to 
assemble  in  the  vicinity  of  the  bonfire. 

This  was  gradually  dying  out. 

Ah  Sing  could  be  seen  speaking  to  them  in  an  excited 
manner,  pointing  to  his  head,  and  evidently  explaining 
the  way  in  which  he  had  lost  his  much-cherished  hair. 

Great  indignation  was  expressed  by  his  friends. 

Half-a-dozen  of  the  Chinese  brandished  knives  in  the  air 
and  then  plunging  into  the  water,  began  to  swim  across 
the  lake. 

Twenty  more  ran  round  its  sides,  stopping  one  by  one 
at  intervals,  making  a  cordon. 

These  were  posted  as  sentinels  to  prevent  the  prisoners 
on  the  island  from  escaping. 

Others  went  back  to  Chinatown  to  procure  guns. 

"They  are  coming,  Mast'  Jack,"  said  Monday;  "we 
are  in  for  it  now.  no  mistake. " 


AFLOA  T  AND  ASHORE.  27 1 

"  Chinamen  are  not  a  very  hard  crowd  to  fckle,"  replied 
Jack,  "they  are  soon  cowed." 

"What  you  do,  sare  ?  " 

"Pepper  them  with  my  revolver.  They  know  they  are 
acting  illegally ;  the  judge  at  Singapore  would  soon  let 
them  find  out  that. " 

"No  good  think  of  that ;  all  urn  folks  are  Chinee.  No 
white  man  to  prove  anything." 

"  That  is  true  ;  we  have  got  to  defend  ourselves." 

"Davis  at  the  bottom  of  this,"  Monday  continued; 
"  wonder  he  am  not  here." 

"I  don't  suppose  he  knows  of  the  turn  affairs  have 
taken;  if  he  did,  he  would  not  dare  to  show  his  face," 
Jack  replied. 

The  six  swimmers  had  narrowed  the  distance  between 
them  and  the  island. 

"What  do  you  want  over  here?"  asked  Jack,  loudly. 

Ah  Sing,  who  was  standing  on  the  bank,  took  upon 
himself  to  respond. 

"They  comee  to  fishee,"  he  said. 

"  They  be  hanged  !  "  replied  Jack.  "  Do  you  think  I  am 
such  a  fool  as  to  believe  such  a  yarn  ?  " 

"  It  is  the  trufee,  I  swearee." 

"Call  your  men  back,  or  I  will  fire  !  Do  you  hear  me  ? 
I  don't  want  to  injure  anybody,  but  I  must  protect 
myself. " 

' '  What  you  shootee  poor  Chinaman ee  for  ?  Island  not 
yours.  I  am  one  of  the  strictly  honourables. " 

"  Yes,  you  are,  over  the  left.  I  would  not  trust  one  of 
your  puppy-dog,  rat-eating  race,  farther  than  I  could  see 
him." 

"Listen  to  the  most  highly  respectable,"  exclaimed 
Ah  Sing. 

"  I'll  not  hear  a  word,"  shouted  Jack.  "  Call  off  your 
sharks ;  call  your  blood-hounds  back.  I  know  what  is 
meant." 

' '  No  harmee  ;  want  to  make  friends,  shakee  hands. " 

"Cut  throats  rather,  you  yellow-faced  humbug." 

"No  callee/'said  Ah  Sing,  doggedly.  "  Those  men 
my  brudders  ;  they  go  fishee. " 

' '  Your  brothers,  eh  ?  If  you  have  any  regard  for  them, 
y«u  will  tell  them  to  return." 

Ah  Sing  shook  his  head. 


272  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y  'S  AD  VENTURES 

He  knew  that  he  was  running  no  great  risk,  because 
the  resident  magistrate  in  his  district  was  no  other  than 
Josiah  Davis. 

Frank's  father  would  hush  up  the  affair,  and  protect 
him  if  a  tragedy  took  place. 

He  felt  himself  at  liberty  to  kill  Jack,  Mole,  and  Mon- 
day, the  pretext  for  the  crime  being  the  cutting  off  of  his 
pig-tail. 

Jack  hesitated  no  longer. 

He  fired  at  the  foremost  swimmer. 

The  unfortunate  man  received  the  ball  in  the  shoulder. 

He  uttered  a  wild  shriek  of  pain. 

The  other  five  rallied  round  him,  and  preventing  him 
from  sinking,  turned  round. 

The  attack  \/as  over  for  the  present. 

They  were  frightened,  and  seemed  bent  only  on  saving 
his  life,  for  they  turned  tail  and  swam  back,  supporting 
their  wounded  friend  as  best  they  could. 

"  Hurrah  !  "  cried  Jack,  "  first  blood  to  our  side." 

"That  was  good  shot,  sarc,"  replied  Monday. 

"Look  out  at  the  rear,  I  will  watch  this  side.  Not  a 
mother's  son  of  them  shall  land  here,  you  bet." 

Monday  facx,?  about 

There  \\v.-  a:,  open  space  between  the  clump  of  trees 
and  the  ne:  t  lot,  which  r.ny  one  attacking  them  would 
have  to  crosc. 

Mr.  Mole  looked  round  the  corner,  with  a  bottle  of 
brandy  in  one  har.d,  and  a  pistol  in  the  other. 

"  If  you  want  assistance,  Harkaway,  call  me,"  he  said. 
"You  know  you  can  always  rely  on  yours  truly,  Isaac 
Mole." 

"  The  enemy  have  suffered  a  repulse,  sir, "  answered  Jack. 

"Shall  we  be  able  to  hold  the  fort  against  these 
barbarians  ?  " 

"I  hope  so,  or  it  will  be  all  up  with  us." 

"  It  is  lucky  I  am  with  you, "  exclaimed  Mole.  ' '  Some- 
how my  presence  always  seems  to  awe  savages.  I  sup- 
pose it  is  owing  to  my  long  intercourse  with  schoolboys, 
who  are  little  else."  ' 

"What  do  you  call  yourself?"  asked  Jack. 

' '  A  man  amongst  men.  Certainly  a  head  and  shoulders 
taller,  morally,  than  others,"  Mole  replied,  complacently. 

All  at  once,  a  peculiar  sound  was  heard. 


AFLOAT  AND  ASHORE.  273 

It  was  the  crack  of  a  rifle,  and  the  "ping  "  of  a  bullet. 

This  leaden  messenger  of  death  whizzed  between  the 
professor  and  Jack,  embedding  itself  deeply  in  one  of  the 
trees. 

A  Chinaman  had  brought  down  a  rifle,  and  fired  from 
the  edge  of  the  lake. 

It  was  a  narrow  escape. 

"  Close  shave  that,  sir,"  said  Jack,  coolly. 

Mr.  Mole  had  vanished. 

A  sepulchral  voice  coming  from  behind  the  trees, 
replied — 

"Shelter  is  the  thing.  No  use  in  locking  the  stable 
door  when  the  horse  is  stolen.  Come  here.  The  mis- 
creants will  get  the  range  directly,  and  there  will  be  a 
dead  Harkaway  lying  about  somewhere." 

"I  thought  you  were  morally  superior  to  the  rest  of  us," 
Jack  replied,  laughing. 

"  So  lam.  It  is  nothing  to  laugh  at.  I  have  learnt 
prudence." 

Jack  discharged  his  pistol  in  defiance. 

He  did  not  think  it  would  carry  so  far,  but  one  of  the 
Chinese  fell  to  the  earth. 

"By  Jove,  there's  another  dog  down!"  he  exclaimed. 
"  Hear  the  cur  yelp." 

"So  would  you,  if  you  had  an  ounce  of  lead  in  you." 

"Not  I.  It  isn't  my  disposition  to  make  a  song  about 
trifles. " 

' '  Don't  brag.     Come  here, "  said  Mole. 

Jack  did  so. 

Kis  last  shot  had  alarmed  the  Chinamen,  and  the 
"  johnnies,"  as  they  were  called,  retreated. 

The  swimmers  reached  the  land  ;  their  wounded  com- 
panion was  dragged  out  of  the  water  and  carried  away. 

Two  litters  of  bamboo  were  hastily  made,  and  the  two 
injuied  ones  removed  to  their  homes. 

Those  who  remained  crowded  together,  talking  and 
gesticulating,  as  if  holding  a  council  of  war. 

Monday  was  nowhere  to  be  seen. 

The  enemy  made  no  further  forward  movement.  In- 
deed, some  of  them  left  the  scene,  and  proceeded  to  their 
homes. 

Jack  lighted  a  cigar  and  contented  himself  with  watch- 
ing Ah  Sing  and  his  friends. 
18 


HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"  Are  they  tired  of  the  job  ?  "  asked  Mole. 

' '  No,  sir,"  replied  Jack  ;  ' '  the  artful  beggars  are  waiting 
for  night  to  come. "  ' 

"Do  you  think  so  ?  " 

"I'm  sure  of  it.  When  darkness  falls,  they  will  make 
things  lively,  take  my  word  for  it." 

Some  shots  were  heard  on  the  other  side  of  the  island. 

"A  pound  to  a  postage-stamp  that  is  Monday,"  said 
J^ck. 

"I  thought  he  had  gone  to  hide,"  observed  Mole. 

"To  scout,  you  mean.  You  might  hide  in  holes  and 
corners,  but  my  black  would  not." 

"That's  right,  stick  up  for  your  coloured  friend,"  Mole 
said,  sarcastically. 

"Why  not ?  He  is  my  friend  as  much  as  you  are,  and 
has  proved  himself  so  on  more  than  one  occasion,"  Jack 
retorted. 

Presently  Monday  came  running  up. 

He  was  rather  excited,  and  out  of  breath. 

"I  caught  two  of  um  Chinee,"  he  exclaimed.  "They 
swim  over  other  side,  to  sneak  up  this  way." 

"  What  did  you  do  with  them  ? "  asked  Jack. 

"Jus'  say,  what  price  you?  how  much  the  pair  of  you  ? 
and  drop  them  with  my  pistol,  dead  as  mutton,  sare. 
Got  to  keep  um  eyes  open,  time  like  this." 

"  Sit  down  and  have  a  drop  of  brandy." 

"  That  jus'  touch  the  spot,"  Monday  answered.  "  I'm 
pretty  near  beat  after  las'  night,  sare." 

A  drink  seemed  to  revive  him  wonderfully,  and  no 
wonder,  as  he  was  thoroughly  exhausted  through  what  he 
had  undergone. 

"Now  lie  down  and  go  to  sleep,"  said  Jack,  kindly. 
"I'll  keep  watch  while  you  have  a  much  needed  forty 
winks,  and  will  wake  you  if  there  is  any  more  over  there." 

"I'm  one  of  the  toughs,  Mast'  Jack,  but  I'll  have  to 
give  in,"  replied  Monday. 

"  You  are  not  made  of  iron." 

Monday  threw  himself  down,  but  before  he  had  time  to 
go  to,  sleep,  Jack  noticed  a  commotion  among  the  Chinese. 

They  began  to  run  helter-skelter  in  all  directions. 

The  strictly  reliable  and  highly  respectable  Ah  Sing  was 
about  the  first  to  go. 

Soon  the  place  was  cleared  of  them. 


A  FLO  A  T  AND  ASHOKE. 


27$ 


"Get  up,  Monday,"  cried  Jack. 

The  black  was  on  his  feet  in  a  moment 

"Anyone  coming,  sare?"  he  asked. 

"  I  don't  know,  the  heathen  are  bolting  like  raad." 

"That  am  good  news.  Glad  to  see  back  of  urn  rub- 
bish like  that. " 

They  waited  expectantly  for  a  few  minutes. 

Then  they  beheld  a  half-dozen  of  Singapore  policemen, 
with  a  gentleman  at  their  head,  come  to  the  lake. 

"  By  heaven  !"  exclaimed  Jack,  "it  is  Harvey  with 
some  constables.  Bravo,  Dick  !  I  thought  he  would  not 
rest." 

He  left  the  shelter  of  the  trees,  and  showed  himself, 
followed  by  Mole  and  Monday. 
Harkaway  !  "  shouted  Ha'rvey. 
Here  I  am,  all  right  up  to  date,"  was  the  reply. 
Hurrah  !     Have  you  been  in  danger  ?  " 
Rather ! " 

I  thought  so.  During  the  day  I  grew  uneasy  about 
you,  and  going  to  the  head  of  the  police,  got  a  squad, 
and  came  on  here.  At  Chinatown,  we  heard  that  Ah  Sing 
was  after  some  white  men  at  the  lake,  who  had  been 
insulting  and  assaulting  him." 

"  It  is  false  ;  he  was  the  aggressor  !  You  are  just  in 
time,  and  I  can  never  thank  you  enough  for  your  timely 
succour,"  replied  Jack.  "  I  will  explain  all  presently." 

"  Frank  Davis,  I  suppose." 

"  No  doubt  of  it.  Another  trap  !  I  won't  give  him  a 
chance  again,  though." 

"  That  fellow  ought  to  be  born  again,"  said  Harvey. 
"  But  I  say,  old  chappie,  how  are  you  going  to  get  over  ?  " 

"  Swim  it,"  Jack  answered. 

He  set  the  example  by  plunging  into  the  water.  Mon- 
day followed,  and  Mr.  Mole  nervously  brought  up  the  rear. 

Speedily  Jack  was  shaking  hands  with  Harvey. 

The  Chinamen,  afraid  of  the  Singapore  police,  whose 
assistance  Dick  had  invoked  on  behalf  of  his  friend, 
dispersed. 

They  did  not  attempt  any  further  acts  of  violence. 

Their  return  to  the  city  was  accomplished  in  peace. 

During  the  remainder  of  their  stay  at  Singapore,  which 
was  very  brief,  they  neither  saw  nor  heard  anything  more 
of  Frank  Davis. 


276  JACK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  ADVENTURES 

When  word  was  brought  them  that  the  steamer  was 
ready  to  sail  for  Europe,  they  were  all  delighted,  espe- 
cially Emily  and  Mr.  Mole. 

While  he  was  residing  in  Singapore,  Jack  had  made  a 
wonderful  collection  of  guns,  bows,  spears,  and  all  sort 
of  things  he  thought  would  be  interesting  to  the  good 
folks  at  home. 

Six  boxes,  or  rather  packing-cases,  were  filled  with  curi- 
osities of  savage  and  tropical  life. 

He  had  enough  to  start  a  museum. 

And  with  all  this  he  had  a  supply  of  live  stock,  includ- 
ing monkeys,  parrots,  and  even  a  snake  or  two. 

When  he  wrote  home,  he  spoke  in  the  most  affectionate 
and  loving  terms  of  Emily. 

He  wanted  to  make  sure  of  a  welcome  for  the  poor 
orphan  whom  he  loved  so  fondly. 

She  had  no  one  but  him  to  look  to  now. 

He  was  her  only,  her  sole  friend. 


CHAPTER  XLV. 

HOME  AGAIN. 

LUGGAGE  was  not  a  consideration  to  our  travellers. 

All  they   possessed  they  had  bought  at  Singapore. 

Monday  had  attired  himself  in  canvas  shirt,  trousers, 
and  jacket,  with  a  straw  hat. 

Harvey  said  he  looked  a  very  intelligent  and  decent 
nigger  indeed. 

They  went  on  board  the  steamer,  and  made  a  rapid 
passage  to  London,  without  encountering  any  accident. 

This  was  a  wonder,  Jack  remarked,  considering  he 
was  on  board. 

Harvey  went  to  his  father's  house  in  the  suburbs. 

Mr.  Mole  took  up  his  abode  at  an  hotel. 

Jack  and  Emily,  with  Monday,  went  by  train  to  Mr. 
Bedington's  house. 

They  were  not  unexpected,  because  the  boys  had 
telegraphed  from  Singapore,  informing  them  of  their 
safety,  and  their  probable  speedy  arrival. 


AFLQA  T  AND  ASHORE.  277 

It  was  a  lovely  evening  in  autumn,  as  the  fly  drove  up 
to  the  house. 

Emily's  heart  beat  quicker  than  Jack's. 

"  If  your  friends  should  not  be  kind  to  me,"  she  said, 
"  I  shall  die." 

Jack  pressed  her  hand. 

"  Do  not  fear  on  that  account,"  he  said  softly. 

In  a  few  minutes  he  was  shaking  his  father  by  the 
hand,  and  being  kissed  by  his  mother. 

"My  boy,  my  darling!"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Bedington, 
"  we  never  expected  to  see  you  again.  What  perils  you 
must  have  gone  through  !  " 

"A  few,  mother,"  replied  Jack.  "I  shall  astonish 
you  when  I  tell  you  some  stories." 

"  So  you  have  had  enough  of  the  sea,  John  ? "  observed 
his  father. 

"  Enough  and  to  spare,"  answered  Jack. 

Emily  remained  timidly  in  the  background. 

"  But,"  replied  Mrs.  Bedington,  "  where  is  little  Emily 
of  whom  you  spoke  in  your  letter  which  came  overland 
from  Aden  ?  " 

' '  Emmy,  where  are  you  ?  "  cried  Jack. 

Emily  stepped  forward. 

"  My  dear  child,"  continued  Mrs.  Bedington,  "  in 
future  you  are  to  be  my  daughter.  We  are  not  strangers, 
you  know,  for  we  have  met  before." 

Emily  sobbed  on  her  shoulder. 

"  Bless  me  !  what's  this?  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Bedington. 

He  saw  something  black,  with  white,  gleaming  teeth, 
in  the  passage. 

"  That's  my  tame  nigger,"  said  Jack. 

"  Your  what  ?  "  said  his  mother. 

"  Only  Monday.  It's  the  cheese,  where  I've  been,  to 
start  a  private  nigger." 

"  Step  forward,  Monday,  and  let's  have  a  look  at  you," 
said  Mr.  Bedington. 

Monday  came  forward,  bowing  profoundly. 

"  He  saved  my  life,  mother,  more  than  once,"  remarked 
Jack. 

' '  That  is  enough,  dear,  to  secure  him  a  home  beneath 
this  roof." 

"  Monday,  mum,  do  um  work  for  Mast'  Jack,  but  he  no 
wait  'pon  otherpeoples, "  said  the  black,  drawing  himself  up. 


278  JA  CK  HARKA  WA  Y'S  AD  VENTURES 

"  He's  a  king  in  his  own  country,  and  gave  up  a  throne 
to  stick  to  me,"  said  Jack. 

"  What  a  wonderful  instance  of  fidelity  ! "  replied  Mrs. 
Bedington. 

"  It's  true,   mother.     I'm  not  cramming  you." 

"  I  didn't  say  you  were,  John.  Have  you  anything 
else  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  lots  of  things." 

"  Any  monkeys,  parrots,  vegetable  productions — all  the 
fauna  and  flora  of  the  distant  lands  you  have  visited  ?  " 

"  I  think  you  will  find  I  have  a  very  neat  collection 
indeed,  mother,"  replied  Jack. 

Monday  was  sent  to  the  servants'  hall,  and  was  as  much 
an  object  of  amusement  to  the  inmates  as  they  were  to 
him. 

Mrs.  Bedington  and  Emily  retired  upstairs  to  talk  at 
their  ease,  while  Mr.  Bedington  and  Jack  took  a  turn 
arm  in  arm  in  the  garden. 

It  may  be  readily  imagined  that  some  wonderful  stories 
were  related  that  night. 

Jack  and  Emily  were  the  lion  and  lioness  of  the  even- 
ing. 

In  a  few  days,  friends  came  from  all  parts  to  see  them. 

Mr.  Crawcour  and  his  masters  were  among  the  visitors. 

Everyone  listened  breathlessly  to  tales  of  Limbians 
and  Pisangs,  of  desert  islands  and  volcanoes,  of  pirates 
and  dungeons. 

All  concurred  in  detestation  of  Hunston. 

It  was  hoped  that  he  had  perished  in  the  pirate  city. 
Jack  had  his  doubts. 

When  questioned  upon  the  subject  he  would  say — 

"  The  beggar  has  nine  lives.  I  daresay  he'll  turn  up 
again  some  day." 

For  a  fortnight  the  time  passed  very  pleasantly. 

He  rode  his  father's  best  horse,  and  drove  Emily  out 
in  his  mother's  pony  carriage. 

Monday  accompanied  them  on  all  occasions,  as  groom 
or  personal  attendant. 

After  a  while  Mr.  Bedington  called  Jack  into  his  study. 

"  Have  you  had  enough  of  sea,"  he  asked,  "or  do 
you  still  want  to  follow  it  as  a  profession  ?  " 

•'  No,"  replied  Jack  ;   "I  don't." 

"  Now,  the  question  is,  what  would  you  like  to  be? " 


AFL OAT  AND  ASHORE.  279 

"  A  soldier,"  replied  Jack.  "Buy  me  a  commission  in 
the  aimy." 

"  I  have  no  objection  to  that,  but  don't  you  think  you 
would  be  all  the  better  for  a  year  or  two  at  a  university  ?  " 
replied  Mr.  Bedington. 

"  Just  what  I  should  like." 

' '  We  wish  to  study  your  happiness, "  answered  Mr. 
Bedington.  "  Now  which  university  would  you  like  to 
o°  to  ? " 

"Oxford;  it  is  more  swell  than  Cambridge,"  replied 
lack. 

Mr.  Bedington  smiled. 

' '  Very  well,  to  Oxford  you  shall  go. " 

"Thank  you  very  much,"  replied  Jack.  "  May  I  ask 
you  another  favour?  " 

"Certainly." 

"  You  are  well  off  ?" 

"Yes." 

"My  friend  Harvey's  parents  are  poor.  He  was  my 
LViend  during  my  troubles  with  the  savages,  and  he  has 
often  told  me  it  would  make  a  man  of  him  if  he  could  go 
10  Oxford. " 

"Well  ?"  replied  Mr.  Bedington. 

"  Will  you  pay  for  him  too  ?  I  would  so  like  to  have 
him  up  at  Oxford  with  me." 

4 '  Yes, "  replied  Mr.   Bedington. 

Jack  was  overjoyed  at  this  concession. 

It  was  settled  that  he  and  Harvey  should  go  to  Oxford. 

Emily  went  away  to  Paris  to  finish  her  education. 

Jack  and  Harvey  had  a  private  tutor  at  Mr.  Bedington's, 
who  in  a  short  time  prepared  them  for  their  examination. 

This  they  passed  with  flying  colours. 

At  the  commencement  of  term  they  were  to  take  up 
^heir  residence  at  college. 

We  shall  now  introduce  to  our  readers  the  career  of 
Jack  Harkaway  at  Oxford. 

We  trust  they  will  follow  him  with  as  much  interest, 
and  may  we  hope,  pleasure,  as  they  have  hitherto  been 
kind  enough  to  do. 

Life  at  Oxford  presents  temptations  and  trials,  advent- 
ures and  triumphs,  of  all  of  which  it  will  be  found  that 
our  old  friend  Jack  Harkaway  had  his  full  share,  and  bore 
himself  bravely  through  everything. 


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AUTHOR  OF 

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1  Adrift  in  New  York  Alger 
2  Adventures  Among  the  Indians  . 
Kingston 

51  Life  of  Kit  Carson.  .  .  .E.  S.  Ellis 
52  Lion  of  St.  Mark  G.A.  Henty 
53  Little  by  Little  O.  Optic 
54  Lone  Ranch  Capt.  M.  Reid 
55  Lion  of  the  North.  .G.  A.  Henty 
56  Luke  Walton  H.  Alger,  Jr. 
57  Making  His  Way 

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4  Adventures  of  Famous  Sailors.  . 
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Shore  I'.sley 
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8  All  Aboard                 Oliver  Optic 

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59  Now  or  Never  O.  Optic 
60  One  of  the  28th  ....G.A  .Henty 
61  Only  an  Irish  Boy  .  .  H.  Alger,  Jr. 
62  Out  On  the  Pampas  .  .  .  .G.Henty 
63  Pathfinder.  .J.  Fenimore  Cooper 
64  Paul  the  Peddler..  .H.Alger,  Jr. 
65  Phil,  the  Fiddler  " 

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11  Boat  Club                        O.  Optic 

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15  Boy  Knight  G.  A.  Henty 
16  Brave  and  Bold  H.  Alger,  Jr. 
17  Bravest  of  the  Brave.  .  .  .  .Henty 
18  By  England's  Aid.  .G.  A,  Henty 
19  By  Pike  and  Dyke.  . 
20  By  Sheer  Pluck  
21  The  Cash  Boy  H.  Alger,  Jr. 
22  Captain  Bayley's  Heir.  .  .  .Henty 
23  Cast  Up  by  the  Sea  Baker 
24  Chester  Rand  H.  Alger,  Jr. 
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26  Daniel  Boone  G.  C.  Hill 
27  Deerslayer  .  .  J.  Fenimore  Cooper 
28  Desert  Home  Capt.  M.  Reid 
29  Do  and  Dare  .  .  Horatio  Alger  Jr. 
30  Driven  From  Home. 
31  Erie  Train  Boy  " 
32  Facing  the  World  .  .  . 
33  For  Name  and  Fame  Henty 
34  Forest  and  Frontier,  or  Adven- 
tures Among  the  Indians  
35  Friends  Though  Divided.  Henty 
36  Green  Mountain  Boys  .  Thompson 
37  Golden  Canon  G.  A.  Henty 
38  Hector's  Inheritance.  .  .H.  Alger 
39  Helping  Himself  " 
40  Herbert  Carter's  Legacy     " 
41  Hero  of  Pine  Ridge  Butler.  . 
42  In  a  New  World  .  .  .  .  H.  Alger  Jr. 
43  In  Freedom's  Cause.  G.A.  Henty 
44  In  the  Reign  of  Terror.  .  .    " 
45  In  Times  of  Peril  .  .  ..G.  A.  Henty 
46  Jack  Harkaway's  School  Days.  . 
Hemyng 
47  Jack's  Ward  H.  Alger.  Jr 
48  Jed,  the  Poorhouse  Boy.  ." 
49  Julius,  the  Street  Boy  .  .       " 
50  Last  of  the  Mohicans  Cooper 

J.  Fenimore  Cooper 
67  Poor  and  Proud  O  Optic 

68  Prairie,  The  J.  P.  Cooper 
69  Ralph  Raymond's  Heir..  .Alger 
70  Rifle  Rangers.  .  .  .Capt.  M.  Reid 
71  Risen  From  the  Ranks.  .  .  .Alger 
72  Robinson  Crusoe  D.  DeFoe 
73  Sam's  Chance  H.  Alger,  Jr. 
74  Scalp  Hunters  Capt.  M.  Reid 
75  Shifting  for  Himself  Alger 

76  Slow  and  Sure  
77  Spy,  The  J.  Fenimore  Cooper 
78  Star  of  India  E.  S.  Ellis 
79  Store  Boy,  The  H.  Alger,  Jr. 
80  Strive  and  Succeed  " 
81  Strong  and  Steady  " 
82  Sturdy  and  Strong.  .  G.  A.  Henty 
83  Through  the  Fray  " 
84  Tom,  the  Boot-Black  Alger 
85  Tom  Brown's  School  Days 

86  Toin  Brown  at  Oxford  ...   " 
87  Tour  of  the  World  in  Eighty 
Days  Verne 

88  Try  Again  O.  Optic 
89  Try  and  Trust  H.  Alger,  Jr, 
90  Treasure  Island  Stevenson 
91  Twenty  Thousand  Leagues 
Under  the  Sea  Jules  Verne 
92  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin  Stowe 
93  With  Clive  in  India  Henty 
94  Wood  Rangers,  or  Trappers  of 

95  Young  Acrobat  .  .  .  .  H.  Alger,  Jr. 
96  Young  Carthaginians.  .  .  .Henty 
97  Young  Colonists  
98  Young  Outlaw  H.  Alger,  Jr. 
99  Young    Midshipman  Henty 
100  Young  Salesman  Alger 

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I^lfe>  and  Sayings  of 

THEODORE    ROOSEY/ELT 

By  THOMAS    W.    HANDI*ORD 

Introduction  by  Charles  Walter  Brown,  A.  M. 

An  ideal  American,  the  pride  of  the  Rough  Riders. 
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LIfe>    and    Deeds   of 


ETHAN   ALLEN  Aad  ^  GB~? 

By  Charles  Walter  Brown,  A.  M.,  Author  of  "John  Paul  Jones,"  "Hathan 

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The  hero  of  Ticonderoga  and   leader    of    the   Green 
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tinental Congress  and  the  Great  Jehovah."      This  book 
not  only  gives  a  full  account  of  the  exploits   of  Colonel 
Allen,    out   contains  also  a  brief  history   of   Vermont, 
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The    Life.    And    D«e>da    of 

JOHN  PAUL  JONES   of  Naval  Fame 

By  Charles  Walter  Brown,  A.  M.,  Author  of  "Nathan  Hale,"   "Ethan  Al- 
len," "LaFayette,"  Etc.    Illustrated. 

American  history  gleams  with  the  brilliant  achieve. 
ments  of  her  adoptecl  sons.  No  historian  ever  wearies 
in  telling  of  the  glorious  deeds  and  self-sacrifices  of  La- 
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Rochambeau,  Steuben,  St.  Clair,  D'Estaing  and  John 
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a  chart  and  views  of  Jones'  most  daring  exploits  on  the  coasts  of  England 
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1  All  Aboard;  or,  Life  on  the  Lake. 

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4  Fighting  Joe;  or,  The  Fortunes  of  a,  Staff  Officer. 

5  flasteand  Waste;  or,  The  Young  Pilot  of  Lake  Champlain. 

6  Hope  and  Have;  or,  Fanny  Grant  Among  the  Indians. 

7  In  School  and  Out;  or.  The  Conquest  of  Richard  Grant. 

8  Little  by  Little;  or,  The  Cruise  of  the  Flyaway. 

9  Now  or  Never;  or,  The  Adventures  of  Bobby  Bright. 

10  Outward  Bound;  or,  Young  American  Afloat. 

11  Poor  and  Proud;  or,  The  Fortunes  of  Kate  Redburn. 

12  Rich  and  Humble;  or,  The  Mission  of  Bertha  Grant. 

13  Sailor  Boy,  The;  or,  Jack  Somers  in  the  Navy. 

14  Soldier  Boy,  The;  or,  Tom  Somers  in  the  Army. 

15  Three  Millions;  or,  The  Way  of  the  World. 

16  Try  Again;  or,  The  Trials  and  Triumphs  of  Harry  West. 

17  Watch  and  Wait;  or,  The  Young  Fugitives. 

18  Work  and  Win;  or,  Noddy  Newman  on  a  Cruise. 

19  The  Yankee  Middy;  or,  The  Adventuresof  a  Naval  Officer. 

20  The  Young  Lieutenant;  or,  Adventures  of  an  Army  Officer. 


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